16 Films With Disabled Characters Played by Disabled Actors
I’m Raul Krauthausen the founder of SOZIALHELD*INNEN, an NPO and consultancy from Germany, focussing on Disability Mainstreaming. With this newsletter, I share hand-picked links from around the world.
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Thank you,
Raul
We wrote a children’s book (in german)
Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation
16 Films With Disabled Characters Played by Disabled Actors (disabilityhorizons.com)
16 films with disabled characters played by disabled actors that are a must watch for anyone interested in representation.
A visit to Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre (justcopy.co.uk)
A tour of Google UK’s first Accessibility Discovery Centre in London. I was invited as one of the finalists from the Shaw Trust's 2023 Disability Power 100.
Top 13 Reasons Teachers Avoid ChatGPT and Other AI Tools (educatingalllearners.org)
More than half of educators—59 percent—are not currently using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools, according to an EdWeek Research Center survey.
Julie Reid obituary (theguardian.com)
Other lives: Guardian journalist whose sense of empathy made her supportive of colleagues and aware of what readers liked
What counts when you have Dyscalculia (michellesmission.net)
Having a Dyscalculia has impacted me in so many areas of my life at home, school, work and in the community. Some of the areas of struggle have been telling time, remebering the steps to a math problem, confusing my right from my left, and budgeting. Counting has also been an issue for me. I can rememeber thinking that I would never be able to count to 100 in school. I have mastered this concept but numbers still give me difficulties. For so many years I focused on all of the struggles Dyscalculia gave me that I lost what truly counted. The parts that truly matter when you have one are effort, focusing on your strenthgs, and finding stratagies that work.
What’s the point of Starmer’s Labour if it won’t stand up for poor, sick or disabled people? (theguardian.com)
The party should be a beacon of hope for people on benefits. Instead, with a 30-point poll lead, it’s parroting Tory soundbites, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
Down Syndrome Reality Show Winning Accolades And Fans (disabilityscoop.com)
Riding high on a wave of success, a reality show all about a group of adults with Down syndrome is set to return to television.
An iPhone Feature Helping Deaf/Hard of Hearing People: Live Captions (youtube.com)
My friend Lainey Feingold showed her 91-year-old dad how to turn on Live Captions on his iPhone, and now he loves how much easier phone calls are for him. How many other elders don't know about Live Captions? Everyone, including our elders, should have communication tools that help facilitate connection. Share accessibility features with elders in your communities.
Mar Galcerán is Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down syndrome (womensagenda.com.au)
Mar Galcerán recently made history in Spain, becoming the country’s first parliamentarian with Down syndrome.
Home Care Aides Fight to End 24-Hour Shifts: ‘This Work Is Killing Them’ (nytimes.com)
Home health care, among the fastest growing industries in New York and nationwide, is also one of the lowest paying, with often grueling hours.
Are You Pulling My Leg? (brisbanecomedyfestival.com)
Brisbane Comedy Festival hosts a hand-picked selection of the funniest folk in the country and around the world. Join us for night after night of side-splitting fun!
‘A beautiful way of saying a lot’: sign language brings benefits to the organic chemistry classroom (nature.com)
Christina Goudreau Collison works with Deaf students to develop clear signs for organic chemistry terms — which could also help students with non-conventional learning needs.
Study shows inequity in cancer survival rates (hollandbloorview.ca)
'Our study makes direct comparisons between how people with and without disabilities do once they're diagnosed.'
DOJ Reaches Settlement with Pasco County School District for Expulsion and Use of Baker Act on Disabled Students (disabilityrightsflorida.org)
DOJ will monitor the district to ensure changes are made.
High-Risk People Like Me Know the Stakes of the 2024 Election (teenvogue.com)
I landed in the hospital during the recent COVID surge.
Unlock the power of AI for a more inclusive world: Free Webinar! (abilitynet.org.uk)
Join us for a FREE webinar packed with inspiring stories and practical tools on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing lives for the better, on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
What Is Donanemab? Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug Gets Delayed Decision From FDA (forbes.com)
A promising new Alzheimer’s treatment is facing a “surprising” delay in its quest for FDA approval.
6 of the best movies and series celebrating deaf actors (sfchronicle.com)
March 13 is the start of National Deaf History Month, a celebration of how deaf and hard of hearing people have made the world a better place. Over the past several years, there has been a miniature revolution in film and television, with deaf actors getting major roles and leading high-profile projects. Here are some worth checking out.
He Built a 2+ Acre Wheelchair-Accessible Garden PARADISE (youtube.com)
How do you garden when you have mobility or accessbility challenges? This video shows you how Stephen Cantu, who is a wheelchair user, has built a 2 acre paradise of edibles, fruit trees, succulents, berries, and more - on a slope! He's a Master Gardener who developed a program called FIG - Friendly Inclusive Gardening, designed to help those with mental or physical challenges to be able to access the joy of gardening.
The Messy Work of Making a Visual Medium Accessible: Tactics for Audio Describing Unflattening (youtube.com)
This conversation addressed what visuals can be rendered through words and what can get lost in the translation? To engage the blind listener, how far from the original art form can description stray while still honoring the artist's work? And why it’s so important - with even the most visually complex work - to tackle innovative forms of access. With its lack of narrative and highly intentional use of the visual form to make meaning, Unflattening poses a particularly difficult challenge for audio description, and we believe, revealed new opportunities and conversations for this nascent field of access. If this can be done, all comics can!
Rushton Lecture 2023 (youtube.com)
DaDa’s Rushton Lecture ‘Reclaiming Nonchalance’ presented by Ashokkumar Mistry premieres online following the announcement on ‘World Social Justice Day’ 2024.
More than a quarter of disabled people avoid public transport because of abuse (express.co.uk)
EXCLUSIVE: Shocking new research shows that 29 per cent of disabled people refuse to use public transport because of the prejudice they face
Opinion: Jokes about disability aren’t taboo. But here’s who shouldn’t be telling them (edition.cnn.com)
After Shane Gillis joked about Down syndrome on “Saturday Night Live,” writer s.e. smith says jokes about disability aren’t off-limits, but who tells them matters.
Dailyrium (aaa.org.hk)
I recently decided to stop taking SSRIs and benzos. Actually, I stopped them completely without checking with my psychiatrist about tapering off the dose. I developed this terrible disdain, almost this repulsive feeling towards these two kinds of pills. The look of them in my pill box made me so nauseous that I just threw them away. I guess it is safe to say that I hate SSRIs, having tried several kinds of them over the past six years for depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive traits. I was happy to see some space opening up in my four-compartment pill box, feeling relieved I’ll only be taking three pills instead of the usual five. Less tasks to remember, more spoons saved!
The Inclusive Design Issue (designmuseumfoundation.org)
Design Museum Magazine’s Winter 2024 issue is available for purchase. The Inclusive Design Issue includes twelve in-depth pieces that explore the diversity of the human experience and the importance of inclusive design as a practice and approach for nondesigners and designers. We have gathered a variety of voices to help us understand the historical and contemporary definitions of inclusive design, demonstrate practical applications and strategies around inclusive design, and offer stories of inclusive design in the built environment, work, and life.
Rhythm and Humor as Resistance (3arts.org)
Playwright and teaching artist Arlene Malinowski interviews drummer Tommy Carroll and media maker Kennedy Healy about music, media, and art as vehicles for disability culture and advocacy.
Punk Cripstemologies (3arts.org)
Multidisciplinary artist and disability advocate Reveca Torres talks with singer/songwriter Stephanie Alma and comics artist/illustrator Bianca Xunise, who both bring their experiences from the 3Arts/Bodies of Work Residency Program to the forefront.
Uninstalling Normality (2024) (thisisliveart.co.uk)
This Study Room Guide on Madness, Mad Pride & Questioning Normality was initially commissioned by LADA in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed its publishing and printing, and its final review occurred in early 2024.
FEATURE: New documentary gives a human face to disability in Japan (english.kyodonews.net)
With its calm and peaceful depiction of a farm where people with disabilities work, a Japanese documentary film aims to give audiences a clear-eyed view into the everyday lives of people who are often kept in the shadows.
Empire of Normality (plutobooks.com)
'Groundbreaking ... [provides] a deep history of the invention of the 'normal' mind as one of the most oppressive tools of capitalism. To read it is to see the world more clearly' Steve Silberman, author of NeuroTribes.
An Interview w/ Robert Chapman on Living in an Empire of Normality (sluggish.xyz)
neurodivergent marxism, let's gooooo
National Portfolio 2023-26 (artscouncil.org.uk)
If you're an NPO or IPSO for 2023-26, find out how we'll work together.
Where dance and tech collide (artsprofessional.co.uk)
Elise Phillips's work clearly demonstrates that technology can enhance the health and wellbeing impacts of dance work with neurologically disabled people.
Intersectionality, Indigeneity, and Disability Climate Justice in Nepal (blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu)
Indigenous Peoples with disabilities in Nepal are disparately impacted by climate change due to intersecting and compounding discrimination.
Blind singer-songwriter Lachi makes her name by raising canes as an activist (eu.lohud.com)
"Hello, my name is Lachi. Like Versace," says the woman in the fabulous dress and the beaming smile. Then the New York-based singer-songwriter takes more time to describe herself than most people.
155 Artists Awarded MacDowell Fellowships for Spring and Summer 2024 (macdowell.org)
MacDowell has awarded the equivalent of more than $2.3 million in fellowships to 155 artists from 30 U.S. states and 14 countries, arriving from as far afield as Chile and India, and Pakistan and Australia. The incoming artists-in-residence work in all disciplines, and were awarded Fellowships from a pool of 2,417 applicants for an acceptance rate of 6.3 percent.
Tour Route (thedisabilitycaravan.com)
The schedule for the upcoming caravan covers numerous cities from South Carolina to Louisiana, with specific arrival and departure times provided.
DPAC returns to the streets for ‘active resistance’ to DWP cuts (disabilitynewsservice.com)
Disabled activists have announced a fightback against a series of “horrific” government social security reforms and have called for “active resistance” to the plans, starting with a national day of action and a protest in London early next month.
Care Fellows - Caring Across Generations (caringacross.org)
Are you passionate about care? Do you want to build your advocacy and communication skills while being supported by other care activists in your community? Apply for our fellowship to help build a better future for care.
Wake Up America (wwnorton.com)
From the coeditor of the best-selling Four Hundred Souls, a galvanizing anthology for those seeking to build an inclusive democracy.
Collective Liberation: Disability and Immigrant Justice (gcir.org)
In this webinar, funders who are committed to intersectional grantmaking and transformational change, along with those who may not yet apply an anti-ableist approach, will learn from experts on the ground about the ways philanthropy can resource and support work taking place at the intersection of disability and immigrant justice.
The Tuba Thieves (bam.org)
Tubas are stolen from high schools across California in this exploration of sound and power.
Jezz Chung presents This Way to Change, feat. Sarah Burke (ptknitwear.com)
P&T Knitwear is pleased to welcome artist, poet, & change maker Jezz Chung for a discussion, audience Q&A, and signing of their newest book, This Way to Change: an inspirational roadmap to changing yourself — and the world — through self-healing, transformation, and decolonization that includes writing & reflection prompts, somatic exercises, guided meditations, & more!
WEI Presents: Panel Discussion on Funding Sustainable Movements at the Intersection of Gender and Disability (airtable.com)
Please join Women Enabled International for a panel discussion on funding movements at the intersection of gender and disability, where you'll hear from activists, funders, and movement leaders about challenges and opportunities they've identified in funding sustainable movements.
Parents Sue Founder Of Trust Fund That Lost $100 Million (disabilityscoop.com)
The founder of a nonprofit that administers special needs trusts is accused of draining more than 1,500 funds set up for individuals with disabilities and others with complex medical needs.
Commitment and Guardianship of Lydia B. Angier, 1896–1907 (mnopedia.org)
Lydia B. Angier was declared insane and committed against her will to Rochester State Hospital in 1896. For the next three years, she wrote letters arguing for her release and restoration to her old life in St. Paul, where she had run a newspaper stand. Her letters provide a window into life inside hospitals for the insane at the turn of the twentieth century, where many people faced poor living conditions and abuse.
Bedbugs, Rats and No Heat: How One Woman Endured a Decade of Neglect in New York’s Guardianship System (propublica.org)
Judith Zbiegniewicz lived in squalor, yet every month, her legally appointed guardian was paid $450 from her bank account. She is one of the thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers left stranded by a system meant to protect them.
‘Politically incorrect. Sorry about that’: Madonna apologises for telling wheelchair user to stand at concert (theguardian.com)
Awkward moment with fan happened during US leg of singer’s Celebration tour
Top Ten UK Disabled Women Influencers (disabilityhorizons.com)
Discover the top 10 influential disabled women in 2024 who are making significant impacts in advocacy, sports, media, and more.
Actors With Disabilities Should Be Part Of The Diversity Discussion (facebook.com)
Actors with disabilities are rarely portrayed authentically. Here's how we can change that.
Many Students Don’t Inform Their Colleges About Their Disability. That Needs to Change (edsurge.com)
In summer 2012, my life changed. I was a 20-year-old college student with a bright future. I was fearless and ready to take the world by storm.
Agreement reached to extend European Disability Card to third-country nationals (edf-feph.org)
On 4 March, the EU institutions reached an agreement to ensure that third-country nationals who reside legally in the EU are eligible to receive the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card.
Beyond Limits (theactiveamputee.org)
Embarking on a fitness journey can be uniquely challenging for individuals with disabilities, yet it's a path brimming with opportunities for empowerment and growth. In today’s post, we'll explore a diverse array of adaptive fitness options tailored to accommodate various needs and abilities so you can stay moving.
Blind people in England at risk from ‘shocking’ social care delays, finds report (theguardian.com)
At least a quarter of councils are taking more than a year to provide vital support to people with a new visual impairment diagnosis.
Ireland’s ‘no-no’ vote is a victory for human rights – not a rejection of progress (theguardian.com)
The government’s inept referendum campaign got the result it deserved, says activist and journalist Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird.
10 Influential Disabled Mothers (criplife.co.uk)
Today is Mother’s Day in the UK and to mark the occasion, we want to celebrate some incredible, resilient and adaptable disabled mothers.
Recent papers highlight possible role of inflammation in connections between COVID-19, cancer markers.
The state took these children away – then used their parents’ low IQ scores to keep them apart (theguardian.com)
In the US, IQ scores are often a key factor in gauging parenting ability. Critics say the assessments are misguided and unfair – and the results can be devastating.
We ignored AIDS. Let’s not repeat the mistake on long COVID (nj.com)
People are coming from all over the country this week to Washington D.C., in the footsteps of AIDS activists, to protest at the Lincoln Memorial.
Michigan Lawmaker Introduces Bill Requiring State Health Plans to Cover Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatments (propublica.org)
After ProPublica reported on a Michigan insurer that wouldn’t cover a cancer patient’s last-chance treatment, a state lawmaker introduced a measure compelling health plans to cover a new generation of advanced cancer therapies.
After Liz gave birth, a nurse asked her if she planned to take baby Mary home (abc.net.au)
Ninety per cent of pregnancies are terminated when prenatal screening predicts Down syndrome. Liz Smith chose to continue with her pregnancy but says she has been traumatised by her experience with the medical system.
Family of non-verbal man who was allegedly left in car during heatwave speak out as carer faces court (abc.net.au)
A support worker has faced court accused of leaving a non-verbal man with autism in a hot car during a searing Perth heatwave, as his family thanks passers-by who freed him.
Living with long Covid: "You feel like you have been poisoned" (newsweek.com)
"I became unrecognizable to those around me," Bella MacDonald, 20, told Newsweek.
SSI May Be Missing Scores Of Eligible Beneficiaries (disabilityscoop.com)
Thousands of children with disabilities may qualify for government assistance that they are not currently receiving.
Loving My Skin: Latest DDNJ Podcast (idrpp.usu.edu)
As a woman of color who was born with cerebral palsy, Shari Cooper has faced many difficult challenges. In the latest DDNJ podcast, Matthew Wappet, the Institute for Disability's Executive Director, talks with Cooper, author of "Loving My Skin: A Self-Advocate's Perspective from Dayton, Ohio," about her experience with self-advocating.
Statement of EDF Women’s Committee: Calling for the Empowerment and Leadership of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Europe (edf-feph.org)
On International Women’s Day, the EDF Women’s Committee calls on leaders and policymakers across Europe to commit to ensuring the rights of women and girls with disabilities in all their diversity, with a focus on empowerment and leadership in line with the Third EDF Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities.
Family-owned pizzeria brings representation to LA's deaf community (nbclosangeles.com)
Since 2011, Pi00a has shed light on the deaf community in Los Angeles — one pizza at a time.
The Oscars Now Have D.E.I. Rules, but Some Say It’s Just a Performance (nytimes.com)
How “Oppenheimer,” a movie about the men who developed the atomic bomb, met the new standards.
Exploring Disability in the Digital Realm (mdpi.com)
This Special Issue calls for research articles that investigate the many places disability resides in the digital world. From art to social networking to telework to gaming, articles can explore a variety of issues that disabled people face in the digital realm. What do access and inclusion mean in digital spaces? How does injustice and exclusion occur in digital spaces? How might we better understand the digital divide through the lens of ableism? How is the disability community represented in digital media?
An Instagram-Ready Immersive Museum Uses Braille. But Is It Accessible? (nytimes.com)
Roy Nachum designed the spectacle-filled Mercer Labs, which he touts as inclusive. But some advocates for blind people say his use of Braille can feel exploitative.
Strengthening the Inclusion, Protection and Wellbeing of Human Rights Defenders with Disabilities (protectioninternational.org)
Together with the University of York and Durham University, Protection International has developed a guide on “Strengthening the Inclusion, Protection, and Wellbeing of Human Rights Defenders with Disabilities”.
IWD 2024: Women with disabilities highlight their plights, proffer solutions (premiumtimesng.com)
The theme for the IWD 2024, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” aims at tackling economic disempowerment.
Access by a thousand curb cuts (yatil.net)
How progress over perfection makes the world a more accessible place, fixing one barrier at a time.
It’s Time to Ask Why / International Women’s Day (kamredlawsk.com)
Today is International Women’s Day. Here are some words. War is the most prolific on women and children. Across the board. Full stop.
Vishal Pujar Head of Accessibility Atos India (axschat.com)
Vishal Pujar Head of Accessibility Atos India is an accomplished Accessibility and Agile certified servant Leader coaching and mentoring teams to achieve goals with an overall 17 plus years of experience in the IT and accessibility domain.
(dis)ABLED BEAUTY (kent.edu)
(dis)ABLED BEAUTY: the evolution of beauty, disability and ability is a celebration of highly designed assistive devices, adaptive devices, and apparel for those living with disabilities. Historically, people with disabilities have not always been held in the same esteem as able-bodied persons regarding level of beauty, intelligence and ability. Thus, many needing assistive devices would hide their disabilities in order to avoid the negative stigmatization that accompanied the concept. Our former President, Franklin D. Roosevelt concealing his disability is an excellent example of this.
I'm a little person. 'Inspiring' stories about my community can be condescending (goodmorningamerica.com)
"Our community is often highlighted in stories as 'inspirational' and 'overcoming the odds,' without journalists exploring the reasons why,” Jennifer Crumly said.
How a health-care cyberattack may affect your prescription drug access (washingtonpost.com)
A cyberattack on Change Healthcare has created problems for many patients trying to fill drug prescriptions, and may delay some care and treatments.
Exclusive: Samantha Renke on 'the beauty of having a disability' and tackling microaggressions as a woman (www-hellomagazine-com.cdn.ampproject.org)
Meet Samantha Renke, the trailblazing lifestyle columnist and disability rights campaigner calling out ableism.
Assisted dying could lead to many tragedies if not handled with care (theguardian.com)
Letters: Readers respond to an article by Frances Ryan that says we should not be naive about protections promised for older and disabled people.
The Power of TV: Ensuring Authentic Disability Inclusion (respectability.org)
In an era where representation matters more than ever, the television industry stands at the forefront of influencing societal perspectives and norms. Attendees heard from panelists who are driving disability inclusion both on and offscreen, as they discussed strategies for success, challenges faced when advocating for inclusivity, and what it takes to achieve greater equity in the television industry.
Inclusion Café (inklusion-leben.org)
Member Event: The Living Inclusion Network will be having the first event of the year the in the format of an ‘Inclusion Café’. Members will engage in hands-on exchange and personal networking in smaller groups. The event is an opportunity to connect with each other and will focus on the topic of “Accessibility through reasonable accommodation”. To join this event, receive our quarterly newsletters and network with other members of the living inclusion network, sign up below.
Inclusion Hacks (inklusion-leben.org)
What do you need to do when organizing a meeting or event to make it accessible? This is the question on our minds as we strive to be inclusive and #liveinclusion in our work. If you are wondering where to start and feel overwhelmed, remember just to start.
Advancing Inclusion: New human rights approach in German Development Cooperation (inklusion-leben.org)
A new human rights approach for German Development Cooperation with a focal point on realisation of human rights through gender equality and disability inclusion was recently introduced by the German government. What does this mean for the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities?
Breaking Barriers: Highlights of the Zero Project Conference 2024 in Vienna (inklusion-leben.org)
Highlights of the zero conference 2024 in Vienna and the inaugaural presentation of the Global Disability Summit 2025 by the cohosts.
Code of Inclusion: Ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace (inklusion-leben.org)
Article by GIZ Egypt In the context of GIZ Egypt’s inclusion efforts, we asked ourselves “Why do we need a code for inclusion of persons with disabilities?”
Partnering with OPDs: What can we learn? (inklusion-leben.org)
The key ingredient for a good partnership is being willing to listen and consider new ways of working.
Ant & Dec award John Willis with ITV’s exciting Takeaway Getaway! (power2inspire.org.uk)
John Willis was invited to Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway live audience and awarded with a famous Takeaway Getaway in recognition of his amazing fundraising.
What to Listen to? (inklusion-leben.org)
Disability Dialogues is an interesting podcast hosted by Gerard Quinn, a United Nations Special Rappoteur of a series of conversations with leaders and activists from around the world who are advancing the rights of people with disabilities. From discussions about the performance of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, to discussions on how Artificial Intelligence can be relevant to disability and the rights to health and so much more… the podcast covers a wide range of sub topics under disability and disability inclusion.
Netflix's 'Fool Me Once' Did A Quietly Revolutionary Thing For Disabled Actors (huffpost.com)
When I saw the wheelchair in the opening episode of “Fool Me Once,” I assumed that this would factor in to how the mystery played out. I was wrong.
States offer services for disabled kids, then make their families wait 10 years for them (pbs.org)
The parents of hundreds of thousands of U.S. children with physical or intellectual disabilities are waiting for state-covered services designed to foster independence and job skills for adulthood.
Disability, Immigration, and Postpandemic Labor Supply (clevelandfed.org)
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland supports the US economy and our region by studying economic conditions and issues that impact our communities, serving financial institutions, and providing economic education and resources for all.
Home Elevators: A Rising Trend (houzz.com)
The increasing popularity of aging in place and universal design are giving home elevators a boost, spurring innovation and lower cost.
WILD Impact Story - Princess, Sierra Leone (youtube.com)
Ramatu Princess Kanu of Sierra Leone shares how the WILD program changed her life. She went on to found her own organization Women with Disabilities Yearning for Equal Opportunities (WODYEO) after the 2019 WILD program. She is leading efforts to ensure inclusive gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health programs for women with disabilities.
Celebrating Disabled Women Activists this International Women’s Day! (miusa.org)
In honor of International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2024, we are proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of disabled women activists worldwide.
Scientists and researchers are trying to make American Sign Language more STEM-inclusive (npr.org)
American Sign Language contains thousands of signs. But it is missing some key terms in science, math and technology. That's a problem for deaf students interested in studying these subjects.
Legacy by Uché Blackstock (penguinrandomhouse.com)
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, it never occurred to Uché Blackstock and her twin sister, Oni, that they would be anything but physicians. In the 1980s, their mother headed an organization of Black women physicians, and for years the girls watched these fiercely intelligent women in white coats tend to their patients and neighbors, host community health fairs, cure ills, and save lives.
What the DOT’s disability guidelines can teach us about accessibility comms (ragan.com)
How do you help employees communicate with accessibility in mind?
DOT Proposes Consequential Changes to Air Carrier Disability Accessibility Regulations (cozen.com)
John Foglia and Micahel Deutsch discuss the U.S. Department of Transportation's proposed changes to regulations, which would enact penalties for wheelchair mishandling, ensure safe, dignified, and prompt assistance, and improve accessibility standards for disabled passengers.
Proposed Federal Rules Aim To Keep Airlines From Breaking Passengers' Wheelchairs (huffpost.com)
The proposed change would make it easier for airlines to be penalized for damaging, breaking or mishandling passengers’ wheelchairs.
Discover Kalamazoo to use state grant to show community’s accessibility to travelers (secondwavemedia.com)
Accessibility isn’t a new concept for Kalamazoo. In 1945, the country’s first curb cuts were added to sidewalks in the city’s downtown to accommodate wheelchairs.
Netflix's 'Fool Me Once' Did A Quietly Revolutionary Thing For Disabled Actors (huffpost.com)
When I saw the wheelchair in the opening episode of “Fool Me Once,” I assumed that this would factor in to how the mystery played out. I was wrong.
Nonprofit founder for adaptive hiking in Colorado calls for more accessible trails statewide. (kktv.com)
A Colorado adaptive hiking foundation has three events on their calendar taking place in Colorado Springs. These opportunities are for adapted athletes with limited mobility, but generally for anyone interested in a hiking community.
Duckworth Discusses Wheelchair Rule She Secured And Biden Administration’s Efforts To Improve Aviation Accessibility With DOT Secretary Buttigieg (riverbender.com)
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to highlight the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new proposed rule to improve the consumer experience for passengers with disabilities, prioritize aviation accessibility as well as provide accommodations and the repair or replacement of damaged wheelchairs if mishandled by airlines. In a fireside chat with Secretary Buttigieg and other DOT leaders, Duckworth discussed the announcement as well as her legislation that led to the DOT implementing a first-ever rule that requires air carriers to disclose how many wheelchairs, motorized scooters and other mobility devices they damage or mishandle each month. A fierce advocate for travelers with disabilities, Duckworth also highlighted her All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is already helping our nation’s transit stations become more accessible as well as several of her key priorities to enhance protections for air travelers with disabilities—including her EVAC Act—that were included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 that passed through the CST committee earlier this month. Video of today’s fireside chat is available on YouTube and photos from today’s event are available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
Travelmation advisor champions accessible travel (travelweekly.com)
Jordana Izzo has channeled her family's experience into a new endeavor: director of accessible travel with her host agency, Travelmation.
Why women are being diagnosed with ADHD more frequently (kfyrtv.com)
If you’re a woman with ADHD, it’s likely you weren’t diagnosed as a child.
Charleston officials working on accessibility options within city boundaries (live5news.com)
Charleston officials are looking to bring better accessibility into the city while maintaining the character of historic properties.
PROWAG Can Make Cities More Accessible — So Here's What You Need to Know (usa.streetsblog.org)
America has waited more than 12 years for the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines to be implemented. Here's why it matters.
Augusta preps for election season, helping with more accessibility at the polls (wrdw.com)
Poll workers and people from the National Federation of the blind, Georgia Garden City Chapter helped disabled voters while encouraging people learning the process for the first time.
Black people half as likely to be evaluated for genetic testing as white people (eurekalert.org)
Genetic testing has become a more common way to diagnose and manage many neurologic conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, but a new study has found not everyone may have the same level of access to these tests. Black people were half as likely as white people to be evaluated for genetic testing, according to a study published in the March 6, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
New York Times sued for allegedly firing accessibility program manager who needed brain surgery (hrgrapevine.com)
Carney is suing the New York Times for retaliation, disability discrimination, and termination that allegedly violated the New York State and City Human Rights Law.
The New York Times Sued After Firing Employee Needing Brain Surgery (thedailybeast.com)
Chandra Carney says she was threatened with a bad review for raising the issue of the Times’ disability access, then fired a week after she informed the paper she needed surgery.
Following complaint, Guilford inn moves to enhance accessibility (hartfordbusiness.com)
A Comfort Inn in Guilford is making several changes to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), following a complaint lodged by a customer to federal authorities.
Google Used a Black, Deaf Worker to Tout Its Diversity. Now She’s Suing for Discrimination (wired.com)
Jalon Hall was featured on Google’s corporate social media accounts “for making #LifeAtGoogle more inclusive!” She says the company discriminated against her on the basis of her disability and race.
How accessible are Durham's art spaces? An advocate weighs in. (wunc.org)
Co-host Leoneda Inge sits down with arts accessibility lawyer and advocate Dan Ellison to talk about how art spaces in the Triangle can improve their accommodations for those with disabilities.
Should a NY library ban a man with autism from children's room? This petition says no (eu.lohud.com)
Matt Maillet loves books. He loves music. And he loves libraries.
Missoula accessible housing residents raise concerns over unaddressed maintenance (nbcmontana.com)
Several residents at Missoula’s Eagle Watch Estates tell NBC Montana their maintenance concerns aren't being addressed.
A Recent History of the Academy’s Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Efforts (hollywoodreporter.com)
The 2024 Oscars will include confidential accessibility requests for all nominees and guests, captioning, audio description, in-theater assisted listening devices, accessible seating and parking, and a suite of ASL interpretation services.
What's it Like Cruising With a Mobility Scooter? (cruisecritic.co.uk)
I've just got back from a cruise on MSC Euribia with my mom who uses a mobility scooter. Here is our experience of the challenges and the delights of cruising with a mobility scooter.
Glenelg's accessibility beach mats open 24/7 across the next two weeks (glamadelaide.com.au)
Glenelg's accessible beach mat is proving to be a hit with the trial extending their days. See what days are available here.
Advocate pushes Comox for better accessibility in downtown core (comoxvalleyrecord.com)
Julia Tait wants the town to improve and upkeep paint markings on curbs, stairs.
Provide Wheelchairs, Budget Provision to Aid Members’ Environmental Accessibility, NAPWPD Urges Govts (kogireports.com)
The National Association of Persons With Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD) has urged federal and state governments, corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to provide more wheelchairs and budgetary allocations to members to make the environment accessible to them.
Swan Businesses Lead Way With Accessibility (miragenews.com)
On the back of a highly successful pilot program, we are launching a campaign to help local businesses become more accessible and reach more customers.
Advocates say N.B.'s plan for improving accessibility misses the mark (cbc.ca)
An accessibility framework is set to be tabled as legislation in the spring and aims to reduce barriers for people with disabilities. Advocates say the process didn't meaningfully engage people with disabilities and lacks arm's-length accountability.
Opinion: We can use curbs to shape the future of accessibility and mobility (thevarsity.ca)
Enhancing access and mobility through street curbs.
Public building lifts to have voice announcement: CPWD (indianexpress.com)
The 2021 guidelines were formulated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and were an update on the 2016 version of guidelines.
GO Train rider raises ongoing accessibility signage concerns (toronto.com)
Metrolinx says it has followed up with the third-party contractor who manages signage 'to ensure this is fixed as soon as possible.'
With Para Nordic Games on the way, is Prince George accessible enough? (ckpgtoday.ca)
PRINCE GEORGE – Prince George will soon be welcoming hundreds of para-athletes for the Para Nordic World Cup Finals, but Rodney Hodgins, a community member with mobility impairments, believes Prince George isn’t accessible enough for many people.
RBC empowers persons with disabilities to thrive (theglobeandmail.com)
Before Ahmed A. launched his career with RBC, he had spent six fruitless years looking for his ideal job. He says that despite his academic and professional qualifications, he could always tell by the tone of the questions about his visual impairment that he wouldn’t be invited back for a second interview.
OPINION | Disability culture is something you are a part of — not something that is happening to you (cbc.ca)
For John Loeppky, disability culture is exemplified by "moments of validation and connection that allow us to see our identities not just in medical terms, not in terms of what society says we’re lacking, but as a kinship built on shared lived experiences." It shows the world disabled people are "worthy of care and worthy of preservation."
'Excited for it to reopen': Disability advocates weigh in on Portage and Main plan (winnipeg.ctvnews.ca)
Disability advocates are looking forward to the possibility of Winnipeg’s iconic intersection reopening to pedestrians.
Creating accessible workplaces through education (biv.com)
Workplace accessibility is an ever-evolving, never-ending educational journey for organizational leaders.
Robots in social care: the human touch at risk (socialeurope.eu)
‘Carebots’ are the mooted solution to the ageing crisis and staff shortages—but empathy and compassion are irreplaceable.
Kiryat Bialik continues to invest in accessibility (haipo.co.il)
Kiryat Bialik Municipality continues to invest in accessibility both physically and educationally. Surveyors of the Kiryat Bialik accessible community continue to map the city to make it accessible to those with special needs. The reviewers went out to check the Sabinia shopping center, which is currently in the final stages of the renovation and upgrading process. The surveyors examined the sidewalks, the slopes, the intensity of the lighting and public disabled services.
One quarter of disabled people avoid public transport due to inaccessibility (learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk)
One quarter of disabled and elderly people say they avoid using the public transport system in the UK due to accessibility issues, according to a new survey.
Visual and verbal cues are helping Metrobus improve its accessibility (cbc.ca)
Over the past year, the city-owned transit service has seen record ridership numbers in St. John's, and has even struggled to keep up with demand.
HR Magazine - Why digital accessibility is key to recruiting a neurodivergent workforce (hrmagazine.co.uk)
A new and important government-backed report has outlined a raft of recommendations that are designed to support autistic people getting into, and staying in, employment.
Group calls on goverment to withdraw Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill (rnz.co.nz)
Access Matters Aotearoa want a new bill drafted that aligns more closely with the expectations of the disability sector.
Vancouver mayor playing 'disingenuous' accessibility politics, says critic (bc.ctvnews.ca)
When Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Park Board Commissioner Jaspreet Virdi announced an "emergency motion" benefiting people with disabilities this week, not everyone was impressed by the city's efforts.
What is India’s disability law; how accessible are govt buildings to PwD? (indianexpress.com)
Seven years after the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 came into being, one of its main aims — making public buildings accessible to persons with disabilities — remains unfulfilled.
Halifax student launches petition to improve accessibility in school (cbc.ca)
A Halifax teen has launched a petition demanding improved accessibility for students who use mobility aids at her school, including the installation of a stairlift to a classroom that some students cannot get to.
Think tank calls on political leaders to close the transport accessibility gap (thiis.co.uk)
Barriers to transport curtail the ambitions and potential of disabled people, proving costly to the country, which misses out on their valuable contribution to society and the economy, according to a charter by cross-party think tank Policy Connect and the Accessible Transport Policy Commission.
Accessible salon is a sanctuary for wheelchair users, balcony fall beautician says. (bbc.com)
Maddi Neale-Shankster, from Coventry, opened her salon after struggling to access beauty treatments.
Uber must pay wheelchair user $35,000, provide accessible rides: B.C. Human Rights Tribunal (vancouversun.com)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled the ride-hailing app discriminated against a rider based on a physical disability. Find out more.
Websites in Japan becoming more friendly to people with disabilities (japantimes.co.jp)
Japan's revised law on eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities is scheduled to take effect in April.
We support local governments in meeting accessibility requirements. The Accessible Local Government 2.0 programme is about to be launched. Public services, facilities and spaces at the disposal of LGUs will be made more user-friendly for those with special needs. The signing ceremony was attended by Monika Sikora, Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, and Wiesław Szczepański, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration.
Web accessibility is the practice of making websites and web content accessible to all users, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.
Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie Talks This Year’s Ability Summit, Responsible AI In Interview (forbes.com)
Flurrie and I reconnected via videoconference earlier this week to discuss this year’s edition of Microsoft’s Ability Summit.
Improving accessibility and ADA compliance in northeastern Illinois (cmap.illinois.gov)
CMAP's accessibility program helps local governments comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn why accessibility is important, what your community can do, and how CMAP is helping.
Disabled Women Make History: Naomi Hess (blog.christopherreeve.org)
Naomi Hess is no stranger to experiencing challenges as a disabled woman - but she’s also no stranger to empowering herself and others.
Council Post: Starting A Web Accessibility Business: White-Label Partnership, In-House Technology Or Agency? (forbes.com)
If you’re starting a web accessibility business, you’ve got a decision to make: Should you start an agency, offer in-house technology or enter a white-label partnership?
Ability Summit 2024: Advancing accessibility with AI technology and innovation (blogs.microsoft.com)
Today we kick off the 14th Microsoft Ability Summit, an annual event to bring together thought leaders to discuss how we accelerate accessibility to help bridge the Disability Divide.
The New York Times Partner, Latest news of Nepal in English, Latest News Articles (myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com)
Myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com is the most comprehensive and up-to-date news portal of Nepal in English language.
Indian Para Athletes Are Deprived Of Accessibility: Paralympian Yogesh Kathuniya (youtube.com)
"Work hard. There is no shortcut to success," says Paralympian Yogesh Kathuniya. Diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome at a young age, the 26-year-old faced challenges head-on. Yet, he emerged as a Paralympic silver medalist and now sets his sights on gold.
Empowering Learning for All: The Role of Accessibility in Lifelong Learning (td.org)
How can course designers ensure their materials are accessible to everyone? Here are some practical strategies.
Phoenix's 'Vote the Spectrum' Program Champions Voting Accessibility for Neurodivergent Individuals (hoodline.com)
"Phoenix's 'Vote the Spectrum' program helps neurodivergent individuals engage in voting, with mock elections and educational workshops."
Seven ways to help eliminate barriers to learning to improve accessibility (itwire.com)
When organisations reduce the barriers to learning in their workplace, they are building a more knowledgeable, skilled and diverse workforce. This, in turn, drives organisational success, innovation and competitiveness. However, as there are many different ways that businesses operate, sometimes the barriers to learning are harder to overcome.
Lessons Learned from Mobile App Accessibility Testing (youtube.com)
Rachel Dettulio, a senior accessibility engineer, detailed her journey from web developer to accessibility expert, highlighting her certifications and role in improving mobile app accessibility for Citizens bank. She elaborated on the testing methodology for the bank's core mobile app, emphasizing adherence to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and the use of various devices and assistive technologies for comprehensive evaluation. Dettulio's testing uncovered significant accessibility barriers, including issues with text resizing, keyboard accessibility, gesture dependency, control labeling, and dynamic content announcements, affecting both Android and iOS platforms. Her findings underscored the prevalence of accessibility issues across mobile platforms, suggesting the need for improved development practices, greater emphasis on native UI elements, and the importance of real-world testing with disabled users to ensure apps are inclusive and accessible to all.
We need to talk about Jakob (buttondown.email)
If you haven’t read his recent post, “Accessibility Has Failed: Try Generative UI = Individualized UX”… well, you can, I guess? I had to do it, though, so hopefully some of you won’t have to. It’s… thoughtless. Hopeless. Soulless. Nielsen built his reputation on sharing his hot takes with a nascent blogosphere in the 1990s and early aughts, and if he hasn’t spent it all by now, I hope this finishes the job. What concerns me, though, is that he’s selling a class of executives hostile to disabled access a convenient fiction that will end up putting accessibility work on the back burner for a future which may never arrive.
How smart home technology made my home more accessible (theverge.com)
Smart homes can increase accessibility for many people.
Accessibility and Inclusivity in Web Design in 2024 (digitaljournal.com)
In 2024, ensuring websites are inclusive and accessible to everyone is crucial. With advancements in UI/UX and technology like AI, websites can adapt to diverse needs seamlessly. Businesses recognize that inclusivity is not just ethical but also boosts their reputation. In essence, inclusivity and website accessibility are key in 2024 due to technology advancements and a growing emphasis on fairness.
Video | A Universal Design For Inclusive And Accessible Schools (ndtv.com)
Accessibility, right attitude, or welcoming staff - what is needed to build inclusive schools for children with disabilities? Anjilee Agarwal, Co-Founder of Samarthyam and award-winning disability rights advocate has some suggestions.
Jakob Nielsen’s Bad Ideas about Accessibility (briandeconinck.com)
Personal website and portfolio for Brian DeConinck, a digital accessibility specialist.A response to Jakob Nielsen’s blog post declaring accessibility to have failed and proposing an artificial intelligence-based solution. I critique his claims and his solution, and identify what I perceive to be a fundamental misconception of what accessibility is.
Accomplishing accessibility: how hard can it be? (trinitynews.ie)
Recently, I was lucky enough to score tickets to Noah Kahan’s sold-out Dublin concert. In order to enjoy the concert, as soon as the bridge of ‘Your Needs, My Needs’ began, I promptly put my coat hood on (backwards) to cover my entire face until the song was over. Confused?
Certain WP Form Plugins Make Accessibility Easy (wptavern.com)
According to the WAVE web accessibility tool, Gravity Forms scores a perfect score out-of-the-box for their front-end forms. Same with Ninja Forms, Contact Form 7, and WP Forms.
Interview with Nikki Kuhn, Accessibility Expert (creativepro.com)
Q&A with Nikki Kuhn, who is presenting at Nikki Kuhn is a seasoned senior-level accessibility designer with over 15 years of experience in the field. With a strong passion for creating inclusive digital experiences, Nikki has played a pivotal role in enhancing the accessibility of websites, applications, and digital content for numerous organizations. She’s also speaking at CreativePro Week 2024, which takes place July 8-12 in Washington, DC, with a session on designing accessibly.
I really wanted to further my education (disabilitydebrief.org)
Guide to recent disability news from nearly 50 countries.
Beyond ADA Compliance (americanlibrariesmagazine.org)
You don’t need a big library budget to commit to expanded accessibility and inclusion. These steps can be scaled to fit a variety of needs.
AI and the Future of Digital Accessibility: Accessiblu (accessiblu.com)
Learn how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world of digital accessibility and what the future of AI and accessibility might hold.
Colorblind Accessibility Manifesto (colorblindaccessibilitymanifesto.com)
Before designing a website, or even making a small change to an existing one, ask if your design choices consider the needs of people with color blindness. Changing the button color on your website may seem insignificant, but it could make that website inaccessible to nearly 8% of men and 0.4% of women who have color blindness.
Prioritising Accessibility for ABC Websites (abc.net.au)
Discover how the ABC employs different strategies to create an inclusive digital platform, from automated web tools to audience feedback.
Making Math Accessible (tpgi.com)
When creating math content for digital consumption, the information, structure, and relationships that are conveyed visually needs to be programmatically determinable.
accessibility darkness (html5accessibility.com)
Took a journey into the heart of the #a11y industrial complex last night while browsing the interwebs on my phone. Started on X which is fitting. Followed a link to an Open Letter about intransigence of current world leaders to deal with the coming climate bomb among other issues.
Assembly member Daniel O’Donnell criticizes Columbia for ‘failure’ to improve accessibility at 125th Street subway station (columbiaspectator.com)
O’Donnell’s statement comes amid a yearslong push for the University to build an elevator at the station.
Center for Transformative Teaching works to increase accessibility of digital course materials (news.unl.edu)
Instructional designers at the Center for Transformative Teaching are working with faculty and staff to build digital course materials that meet the needs of students with disabilities. Ultimately the work supports instructors and can benefit all students in the classroom.
Leveraging COVID Insights to Boost Digital Accessibility for Disabled (miragenews.com)
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many innovations in how we interact digitally - and a Curtin University research project has won significant funding to ensure people living with disability can also benefit from what's been learned.
Accessibility and sustainability insights for tourism businesses (lancaster.ac.uk)
Lancaster University Management School experts and Marketing Lancashire gave valuable advice on sustainability and accessibility to Lancashire tourism businesses.
The communal responsibility of disability advocacy (thebutlercollegian.com)
“We can only begin to accomplish change when the burden of education no longer falls on those who are most affected.”
OPINION: All Students Includes Disabled Students (haverfordclerk.com)
When I first toured Haverford, I saw one thing that set it apart from other schools. As my tour group walked through VCAM, I noticed a poster for the student group Disability Advocacy for Students at Haverford (DASH). As a disabled person, that poster affirmed that this was the school for me. I felt seen, and was excited to know there were other disabled students like me that met with one another to create a sense of community. That poster for DASH was what sold me on Haverford.
Google Expands Chrome's Live Caption to Eleven New Languages, Enhancing Global Accessibility (bnnbreaking.com)
Google's Live Caption now supports 11 new languages, making the web more accessible for users worldwide. Discover its impact on inclusivity.
Georgia State Parks Promote Accessibility (upsonbeacon.com)
March is Disability Awareness Month and Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites is taking the opportunity to spotlight an often-overlooked aspect of the parks.
Orlie's Coffee Machine Upgrade Boosts Accessibility By Swapping a Touchscreen for Chunky Buttons (hackster.io)
With the factory touchscreen proving an accessibility barrier, this Arduino-powered upgrade prods the panel on your behalf.
Inside OpenAI’s Just-Launched ‘Read Aloud’ Feature And How AI Can Be Accessible Too (forbes.com)
Jang described OpenAI as being "super floored" by much of the feedback, saying there was a lot of unexpected commentary.
ChatGPT’s New Feature Will Let It Read Its Responses Aloud (gadgets360.com)
The Read Aloud feature is available on both Android and iOS apps as well as the web client.
How a First-Time Founder Designed an Electric Flosser That Puts Accessibility First (inc.com)
One painful dentist visit set Samantha Coxe on the path to entrepreneurship.
Windows 11 is becoming a much more ‘accessible and productive experience’ (techradar.com)
An impending update for Windows should make everyone’s lives easier.
AI accessibility could transform the Apple experience in eight ways (9to5mac.com)
Disability campaigner Colin Hughes has described eight ways that AI accessibility features could turbo-boost the experience of using Apple products this year.
Apple Developing New Accessibility Features for iOS 18 and macOS 15 (macrumors.com)
With every operating system release, Apple aims to make apps more accessible and easier to navigate by providing a variety of new accessibility features and settings. iOS 18 (Codename Crystal) and macOS 15 (Codename Glow) will be no exception, and work on accessibility-related enhancements is well underway.
AI-powered prosthetic arm aims to be an accessibility game-changer (cbsnews.com)
Former NFL linebacker and amputee Shaquem Griffin has partnered with smartARM, a tech startup whose AI-powered bionic arm aims to be a leader in prosthetic accessibility. With a built-in camera and artificial intelligence technology, smartARM empowers wearers by adapting to their everyday needs and aims to change the game for accessibility.
6 ways generative AI helps improve accessibility for all with Azure (azure.microsoft.com)
The application of Azure AI in enhancing accessibility is both broad and impactful, with Microsoft Copilot leading the charge. Learn more.
Showee, a smart shower startup, shines a light on accessibility (techcrunch.com)
Showee's shower is designed for people with disabilities, both physical and intellectual. But Showee has another selling point: Water savings.
With Live 12, Ableton Knocked Accessibility Out of the Park (lifewire.com)
The Ableton Live 12 update, launching on March 5, adds tons of accessibility options like keyboard shortcuts, menu updates, and screen reader support, which also benefits everyone.
Paralympian Lex Gillette's top 7 AI tools for accessibility (microsoft.com)
Lex Gillette discusses the potential of technology in the lives of individuals with visual impairments with 7 Microsoft AI tools for accessibility.
Use Live Listen with Made for iPhone hearing aids (support.apple.com)
With Live Listen, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch becomes a remote microphone that sends sound to your Made for iPhone hearing aid. Live Listen can help you hear a conversation in a noisy room or hear someone speaking across the room.
Apple introduces transcripts for Apple Podcasts (apple.com)
Apple Podcasts now offers transcripts of podcast episodes, making podcasts more accessible and easier to navigate.
Accessibility in Microsoft 365 Core Apps (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Accessibility is not a bolt on. It’s something that must be built in to every product we make so that our products work for everyone.
Descriptive boost for visual accessibility (techxplore.com)
There are an estimated 280 million people in the world with debilitating levels of visual impairment. A new tool to empower them with a richer understanding of their surroundings is presented in the International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation.
Accessibility Control: Disabling Guided Access Without Passcode on iPhone 12 (citizenside.com)
Learn how to disable Guided Access without a passcode on iPhone 12, ensuring accessibility control and convenience for users. Explore step-by-step instructions and expert tips.
Screen readers and drag-and-drop, part 2: grabbing and releasing elements (darins.page)
I know it’s been awhile (*checks notes* wow, almost two years!), but I’m finally back with the next article in my “screen readers and drag-and-drop” article series. Here, I’ll be diving into how to convey to screen reader users when an element has been picked up or put down. Ideally, I’ll be able to identify at least a few approaches to prototype into full patterns to test later.
Sony is laying off about 900 PlayStation employees (npr.org)
The layoffs represent about an 8% reduction in PlayStation's global workforce.
Disabled actors and other Industry insiders discusssed the importance of 'authentic' representation in TV on Thursday a Television Academy event.
Symposium on Dis/Ability & Debility in Appalachia (appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu)
Appalachia has long been considered a disabled region. It is widely understood as a “disability belt,” and anti-Appalachian systems are deeply entwined with dis/ablist ones. However, there has been limited conversation between the fields of Appalachian and Disability Studies, and Disabled Appalachian voices have been marginalized in both areas.
Marching Forth: A Celebration of Judy Heumann's Legacy and Impact (youtube.com)
On the one-year anniversary of Judy Heumann's passing, AAPD and Judith Heumann LLC celebrated her legacy and lasting impact. To find more information about the presenters and resources mentioned in this webinar, visit judithheumann.com/marchingforth.
New technology brings severe weather alerts to the deaf, hard-of-hearing (spectrumlocalnews.com)
The North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH), which falls under the state's Department of Health and Human Services, counts around 1.3 million people in the state with hearing loss.
What Is Dubbing? A Deep Dive Into Video Dubbing 101 (3playmedia.com)
In this article, we break down all there is to know about dubbing – from its history, to how it's made, to international preferences.
The world is getting older, and it's great (sirkotsky.substack.com)
What rapidly ageing global population teaches us about accessibility, and how designing for the elderly benefits everybody.
I really wanted to further my education (disabilitydebrief.org)
Guide to recent disability news from nearly 50 countries
NEW joint ILO-ENIL report on Personal Assistance services worldwide (enil.eu)
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ENIL co-produced a report on personal assistance titled “Towards Dignity and Autonomy: A Comprehensive Look at Personal Assistance Policies for Persons with Disabilities Worldwide”. This report compares personal assistance services across nine countries, looking at the structuring of service provision, working conditions of personal assistants, and training and support, ultimately evaluating the level of access and impact on the rights of disabled people.
Shruti Pushkarna: International Women's Day: What about women with disabilities? (mxmindia.com)
Individuals, companies, civil society organisations and even the media makes a spectacle on March 8. And then all is forgotten, rues Shruti Pushkarna.
Victims of Sagamihara massacre at disabled facility are forever nameless (japantimes.co.jp)
There is only one way to interpret the one-off policy of not naming the victims: Their families don't want the public to know that their loved ones have disabilities.
Dreams of Benny (sydneyoperahouse.com)
This immersive three-hour workshop created by professional artists with disability takes participants on an imaginative journey - through a series of experiences that explore Benny’s admirable qualities.
Through the Sunken Lands // Mar. 2–17 (facebook.com)
“Crafted with the audience in mind” (Broadway World), Through the Sunken Lands is a vivid story for all ages; on stage through Mar. 17.
Oscar contender Poor Things is a film about disability. Why won’t more people say so? (theconversation.com)
The absurd humour which the film is being lauded for is often at Bella’s ‘primitive’, ‘monstrous’ or ‘damaged’ actions: words which have been used to describe disabled people throughout history.
Disability News and Mental Health, I can’t work without my ADHD meds (bbc.co.uk)
People who’ve struggled to keep doing their jobs during the ADHD medication crisis speak out; and the return of the world’s smallest comedian.
Questions from young people are the best! (carlyfindlay.com.au)
I talked at a school this week (and at another one last week). It was around three hours of talking (broken up into two sessions) to Year 9 students, and I was tired afterward. But I feel so uplifted and hopeful. The young people asked amazing questions, some of the questions included.
Voices Unveiled: The Power of Dialogue (westutter.org)
Discover Emily's inspiring journey through stuttering, showcasing resilience, acceptance, and the power of embracing differences.
Keep Cripping The Library (touretteshero.com)
As a child I spent hours secretly scouring libraries, looking for stories and characters I could relate to. I was secretive about it for two reasons – I didn’t have the words to describe what I was looking for, and by the time I was eight I’d already internalised the idea that being disabled or neurodiverse was shameful and not something to be celebrated.
Budget Still Disappoints Blind and Partially Sighted People (pocklington.org.uk)
Today, March the 6th, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed the budget for 2024. We listened closely to the Chancellor’s Budget Statement to study the details and identify the big changes that might benefit blind and partially sighted people.
The Accessible Comics Collective: Taking Comics Beyond Sight (blindnewworld.org)
Comics are a very visual medium. But the Accessible Comics Collective are drawing blind and visually impaired folks into their world.
Sunak and Hunt’s last stand? Our panel responds to the Tories’ spring budget (theguardian.com)
Will the tax cuts at the heart of the chancellor’s make-or-break budget give his party any hope?
A Comprehensive Guide to Accessible User Research: Part 2 – Recruitment and Preparation (dscout.com)
Researchers often want to include people with access needs in their studies but don’t know where to begin. This three-part series covers the various considerations for adapting your practice to include people with disabilities.
30 Key Web Accessibility Statistics (accessiblyapp.com)
Web accessibility is not a new concept, but it is now more relevant than ever, with almost 2 billion people living with disabilities worldwide and relying on the web for information, education, and more. But how many websites actually follow the web accessibility standards and guidelines? How well are we really doing to make the web user-friendly for everyone? How many users with disabilities face barriers when accessing online content? These are some of the questions that the following statistics can help us answer.
Do More with Less ARIA: Michaela Lederman (equalizedigital.com)
Discover WAI-ARIA's essentials for web accessibility: key rules, components, and practical uses to improve web accessibility.
Universal Design Guide (universaldesignguide.com)
The methods include tips for how to accommodate participants with diverse abilities to ensure that everyone feels included in a workshop setting no matter what they are capable of.
Continuous Accessibility: What, Why, How (assistivlabs.com)
At Assistiv Labs, we think systems that give near-instant insight at the code change level—with broad coverage of WCAG guidelines—will go a long way towards providing the kind of feedback developers need in order to ship highly accessible products as the default.
Accessibility in e-commerce 2023 (level-level.com)
For the third consecutive year, over half of the largest online stores are not accessible for people with disabilities. Read the study.
How End-to-End Testing moves us closer to Continuous Accessibility (assistivlabs.com)
When an accessibility E2E test passes, you should have high confidence that the user flow being tested can be completed using a keyboard, a screen reader like NVDA, or voice control. And this should happen on every code change, providing near-real time feedback for developers.
Accessibility Amplified: A Journey to Inclusive Android Apps (linkedin.com)
The pursuit of innovation frequently overshadows the requirement of inclusion. As our lives grow more entwined with digital interfaces, it is more important than ever to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, has full access to the digital world. This is especially true for the Android ecosystem, a worldwide platform that links billions of consumers. In this post, we'll look at accessibility on Android and how it might help build a more inclusive and fair technology environment.
Spatial Computing vs. Differentiated Accessibility Solutions (linkedin.com)
While Apple's Mixed-Reality (MR) Headset has been teased to offer ocular enhancement features for people with vision impairments in addition to its entertainment modules, Eyedaptic has been at the forefront of offering specialized smart glasses catering specifically to this user group since our first product release in 2019.
A Comprehensive Technical Guide – The Web Accessibility Playbook (barrierbreak.com)
Elevate your digital presence by prioritizing accessibility with BarrierBreak's Web Accessibility Technical Playbook Creation services.
MYTHS AND FACTS SURROUNDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AND SERVICES (sites.ed.gov)
As used in this document and consistent with IDEA, an “assistive technology device” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of an infant, toddler or child with a disability.
The Urgent Need for Accessible Medical Devices for the Blind: A Call for Change (medriva.com)
Living with a chronic health condition can present a myriad of challenges. For individuals who are blind, these challenges are amplified due to the lack of accessibility in medical devices with screens. This article highlights the importance of making these devices accessible and how Congress has an opportunity to change the landscape of accessible medical technology.
Criptionary: Disability Humor & Satire|Paperback (barnesandnoble.com)
This humorous collection brings attention to the every day struggles and obstacles faced by persons with disabilities while transforming the political incorrectness of the word "crip" into a message of disability activism through which we reclaim our bodies and our lives.
A Kids Book About Disabilities (akidsco.com)
Quick Take This book helps kids approach disabilities as normal. For Ages 5+ What's Inside Sometimes people act like having a disability means you’re from another planet, even though over a BILLION people in the world have disabilities. So how do you talk about disability? How do you talk to people with disabilities?
Zwei Prozent sind nicht genug (deutscherpresseindex.de)
„Inklusiv gestalten – Ideen und gute Beispiele aus Architektur und Stadtplanung“ war die Regionalkonferenz überschrieben, zu der Jürgen Dusel, der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen, gemeinsam mit der Bundesarchitektenkammer (BAK) und der Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg (AKBW) am 4. März 2024 ins ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medien Karlsruhe einlud.
Inklusion: So barrierefrei sind private Medien (youtube.com)
Unter dem Motto „Alles inklusiv? So barrierefrei sind die privaten Medien“ hat die Bremische Landesmedienanstalt am Montag Ergebnisse einer aktuellen Befragung von privaten Medienanbietern vorgestellt. Dabei im Fokus: Barrierefreie Angebote für Menschen mit Behinderung, wie etwa Untertitel oder Leichte Sprache.
Opinion: Jokes about disability aren’t taboo. But here’s who shouldn’t be telling them (edition.cnn.com)
After Shane Gillis joked about Down syndrome on “Saturday Night Live,” writer s.e. smith says jokes about disability aren’t off-limits, but who tells them matters.
My Zero Con Recap (substack.com)
About the Zero Project Conference, finding new role models, and having the post-conference accessibility blues. The girls who get it, get it.
‘Realistic’ Roadmap for Bus Reform from Welsh Government (bususers.org)
Bus passenger champion, Bus Users UK has described the ‘Roadmap to Bus Reform’ from Welsh Government/Transport for Wales as ‘realistic’ given the current funding environment. The report sets out year on year targets for delivering bus service franchising.
Quality Media Literacy Requires More Than Toothless Laws, Educators Say (educatingalllearners.org)
Michael Spikes has spent nearly two decades teaching and writing about the need for media literacy instruction in K–12 schools, as well as developing curricula for teachers. But according to the Northwestern University lecturer, things are headed in the wrong direction: Despite all the efforts thus far, the need to teach kids how to discern good information from bad has never been greater.
How Prioritizing Culture Boosted Attendance, Academics in a Virginia Middle School (educatingalllearners.org)
Starting as a principal during a pandemic is a difficult proposition on its own. But doing so while striving to turn around school culture? A seemingly Herculean task.
Farewell to Our Visionary Leader: Reflecting on the Legacy of Our Departing CEO (kit.org)
Goodbyes are never easy, and this one is bittersweet. Torrie Dunlap, our esteemed Chief Inclusionista for the past decade, is embarking on a new journey after an extraordinary 21-year tenure at KIT. Torrie joined KIT in 2003 after experiencing the magic of KIT support while directing a theater program that included kids with and without disabilities. She channeled the personal andprofessional growth KIT inspired into an incredible career, challenging perceptions of disability and spreading the mission of inclusion far and wide. All the way up to the United Nations!
Accessible Tactile Tours: Enhancing Museum and Performance Experiences for the Visual and Sensory Impaired (assistivetechnologyblog.com)
Discover the world of tactile tours and how they make art and performances accessible to those with sensory impairments. Learn how to create inclusive experiences in your community.
PWDA calls for deeper consultation amidst delayed Disability Commission response (disabilityinsider.com)
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) has tentatively welcomed today’s announcement that all levels of government will delay their formal response to the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) until mid-2024.
Airbnb’s Adapted Category Homes Bring the Fun To Accessible Travel (newmobility.com)
I’ve stayed in dozens of Airbnbs over the years — from a “barndominium” in Colorado to a chic, art-filled apartment overlooking Bogota, Colombia — but never in anything as unique, or as accessible as the house I stayed in this past summer with my family.
5 accessible walks and nature reserves for anyone with a disability (disabilityhorizons.com)
Looking for something to do this bank holiday weekend? How about exploring an accessible walk or nature reserve? Take a look at these 5 accessible outdoor beauty spots to visit this weekend.
UK Government Faces UN For Violation of Disability Rights (disabilityrightsuk.org)
On March 18th, the UK Government will finally face up to the United Nations (UN), giving evidence on their violations of Disabled people’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UN investigated the UK Government in 2016, with the UK being found guilty of systemic violations in 2017. As a UN committee spokeswoman declared, “the committee can confirm that some violations were grave, some others were systematic, and some were both: grave and systematic.”
Diplomacy and resistance: how Dune shows us the power of language – including sign language (theconversation.com)
Although not a true sign language, the use of sign in Dune can still teach us a lesson about the value of sign language.
In Ghana, Photojournalist Inspires Deaf Students to Explore Visual Storytelling (voanews.com)
For students with a disability, career options can appear limited. But in Ghana, one journalist is using photojournalism to encourage students at a deaf school to broaden their horizons. For VOA, Senanu Tord reports from Savelugu, Ghana.
The company agreed in a consent decree to pay the worker $75,000 in back pay and compensatory damages.
Disability pension claims blew out to more than 80 days on average at the end of last year, data reveals (theguardian.com)
Department of Social Services figures show some areas had average wait times of more than 200 days between September and December