Air Canada CEO apologizes for accessibility barriers, rolls out new measures

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.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward this email to your friends! 🙏

Questions? Tips? Suggestions?

Feel free to drop me a line!

Thank you,

Raul

I wrote a book (in german)

In this book, I raise fundamental questions about inclusion in Germany. In conversations with experts, we sketch out an idea of how inclusion can work together at all levels.

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Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation

Air Canada CEO apologizes for accessibility barriers, rolls out new measures (cp24.com)

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau has apologized for the airline's accessibility shortfalls and announced new measures to improve the travel experience for hundreds of thousands of passengers living with a disability.

Bride says Toronto taxi company left disabled father-in-law 'stranded' at church for hours (cp24.com)

A new bride is speaking out after she says a Toronto taxi company left her disabled father-in-law “stranded" on her wedding day, delaying the festivities for hours and leaving him "humiliated."

Metrolinx, Uber Canada apologize after woman with disability faces obstacles to attend Toronto concert (cp24.com)

Metrolinx and Uber Canada have both apologized to a Whitby woman living with cerebral palsy who says she experienced ableism on a recent trip to attend a Toronto concert.

'Dehumanizing': Air Canada blasted by chief accessibility officer after wheelchair left in Toronto (cp24.com)

Canada’s chief accessibility officer has a message for Air Canada after her wheelchair was left behind in Toronto following a flight to Vancouver: “do better.”

Ontario's 2025 accessibility goals impossible without urgent action, report finds (cp24.com)

Ontario will fail to meet its goal of making the province accessible for people with disabilities by 2025 unless the government takes urgent action, a new report has found.

Ontario in a 'crisis state' on accessibility, unlikely to meet 2025 goal (cp24.com)

A new report says Ontario is in a "crisis state" when it comes to accessibility, noting it's a "near certainty" the government will fail to meet its goal of making the province accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.

Number of Canadians with disabilities doubles in 10 years, hits 8 million (cp24.com)

The number of Canadians with at least one disability has doubled in 10 years, a reality that should push governments to help reduce barriers to accessibility, says the head of a human rights organization.

Amid little short-term rental enforcement, Toronto community group books room for evidence (toronto.ctvnews.ca)

Frustrated about the lack of enforcement of apparently illegal short-term rental units operating in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood, a community group took matters into their own hands – and appears to have gotten results.

This Autonomous Driving Startup Announces New Accessibility Network For Disabled Community (forbes.com)

In a blog post published on Thursday, autonomous driving startup Waymo announced the formation of what the Mountain View-based company calls the Waymo Accessibility Network.

Passenger forced to drag himself off Air Canada flight after airline failed to provide wheelchair assistance (cbc.ca)

A B.C. man who uses a wheelchair says he was forced to drag himself off an Air Canada flight in Las Vegas, after the airline failed to provide the assistance required for him to safely exit the plane.

10-year-old boy sets record at US, becomes first black deaf actor to earn Emmy nomination (scholarshipregion.com)

10-year-old Keivonn Woodard has become the first black deaf actor to earn Emmy nomination in the United States.

American Sign Language Version of 'Barbie' Is Coming to Max (themessenger.com)

The interpretive version of 'Barbie' will feature an onscreen ASL interpreter and will be available on Max beginning Dec. 15.

Essential Travel Tool: Never, Ever Miss an Announcement (youtube.com)

Deaf or with normal hearing, anyone who's ever had trouble hearing airport announcements will want to get their hands on this free app. It listens to announcements in any language and sends you a text notification in your own language.

Dancer sheds light on living with a hearing disability (chinadaily.com.cn)

Netizens have praised Yu Tiantian from Zhengzhou, Henan province, for insisting on dancing for 15 years despite having a hearing disability from birth, People's Daily reported on Sunday.

Upcoming indie game Harmonium: The Musical looks to champion accessibility in new ways (msn.com)

Upcoming indie game Harmonium: The Musical is championing accessibility and deaf creators.

Condensed: India’s 16-year-old ARMLESS ARCHER (facebook.com)

The match that defies limits. A display of unbreakable determination.

Daniel Radcliffe making documentary about paralysed Harry Potter stunt double (msn.com)

Daniel Radcliffe has teamed up with his Harry Potter stunt double David Holmes – who became paralysed after an on-set accident – for a forthcoming HBO documentary.

Five disability-led podcasts that may change the way you see the world (abc.net.au)

We are in the golden age of disability podcasting, and people are making their voices heard like never before. Here are five that are a must-listen.

A silenced truth: forced sterilisation must be criminalised! (edf-feph.org)

I was crying and asking them please not to put me to sleep. I was saying please let me have a child, only one (…) every time I see the scar, I feel like dying.

Passenger rights: Equal access to transport is fundamental (edf-feph.org)

A delegation of the European Disability Forum, led by Executive Committee member Nadia Hadad, met the recently appointed Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, Magda Kopczynska, on 31 October.

Is your election campaign accessible? Assess with our checklists (edf-feph.org)

Over 100 million persons with disabilities live in Europe. However, most election campaigns still do not consider their accessibility needs. Information broadcasted through digital channels, events and publications remains inaccessible to this important segment of voters.

European Disability Card: unusually fast agreement on Council of the EU’s position (edf-feph.org)

The Council of the EU agreed its position (“General Approach”) on the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card during the Employment and Social Affairs Council meeting of the 27 November.

European Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023 (edf-feph.org)

The European Commission organises this annual conference in partnership with EDF to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

European Elections: candidates with disabilities must have equal chances (edf-feph.org)

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we call on political parties to select and support candidates with disabilities who are interested in running for the European Elections. This is essential to ensure that the diversity of Europe’s population is represented in the European Parliament.

European Elections: our delegation shares EDF Manifesto with the ALDE Party (edf-feph.org)

A delegation led by European Disability Forum’s President Yannis Vardakastanis met with the Secretary-General of the ALDE Party, Didrik de Schaetzen, on the 12 December to share the disability movement’s demands for the European Elections.

Disability Intergroup (edf-feph.org)

Official page of the Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament to follow the work of Members of the European Parliament on disability.

Passengers with disabilities “grounded” by proposed Passenger Rights Package (edf-feph.org)

The European Commission’s revision of the Passengers’ Rights Regulations published today insufficiently addresses the rights and needs of passengers with disabilities, especially during air travel.

Transport (edf-feph.org)

We believe that all people have the right to enjoy seamless, accessible and independent travel. EU Treaties and Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantee the right to free movement for all citizens. Despite this fact, persons with disabilities still do not fully benefit from this right as the transport system throughout the EU remains inaccessible.

Joint Call to the European Commission on stronger protection for the rights of persons with disabilities when travelling by air (edf-feph.org)

The undersigned European organisations representing passengers, persons with disabilities and persons aged 50+ jointly call on the European Commission to include the revision of Regulation 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air as part of the upcoming proposal to update the passenger rights’ legislative framework.

Intersections: The LGBTI II Survey – Persons with Disabilities Analysis (ilga-europe.org)

In the eighth of our series of Intersections reports, deep-diving into the data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) 2019 LGBTI Survey II, we have collaborated with European Disability Forum, focusing on experiences of LGBTI persons with disabilities in Europe.

The impact of the war on the rights of people with disabilities in Ukraine: monitoring report (ls.org.ua)

The public association “The League of the Strong” and the Kharkiv regional foundation “Public Alternative” have prepared a monitoring report on the observance of the rights of people with disabilities during the war. The report mainly uses the guidelines from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

EDF Youth Committee demands for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2023 (edf-feph.org)

The European Disability Forum’s Youth Committee shares the demands of youth with disabilities on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

EU-ASEAN Civil Society Forum - Advancing Human Rights (edf-feph.org)

The European Disability Forum actively participated in the European Union -Association of Southeast Asian Nations Civil Society Organisations Forum on 2 October in Brussels, Belgium, in anticipation of the 5th EU-ASEAN Policy Dialogue on Human Rights.

EDF Board meeting November 2023 outcomes: Manifesto on women and girls with disabilities, European Disability Card, European Elections (edf-feph.org)

Our last Board meeting of 2023 took place on the 27 November online. During the meeting, the Board: Welcomed new members: the Association Alliance of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities Moldova, Fundacia Aprobata from Poland and the European Platform for Rehabilitation.

What's new in the revised Rail Passenger Rights regulation? (edf-feph.org)

In October, the European Disability Forum (EDF) organised an online event to present updates on the revised Rail Passenger Rights Regulation. This regulation came into effect in June, supplanting the rules that had been in place since 2007.

Spanish Presidency of the European Council: Expanding Voting Rights of Persons with Disabilities (edf-feph.org)

The Spanish Presidency of the Council led 20 countries in endorsing the “Declaration of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council on Expanding Voting Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (PDF) on 16 November 2023. This declaration is supported by the European Disability Forum and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Disability-Inclusive Budgets, Programmes, and Policies Worldwide (edf-feph.org)

In November 2023, the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network organised an online meeting on “Global Inclusion: Engaging donor offices and delegations for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in budgets, programmes and policies worldwide.”

OECD report on Artificial Intelligence and Employment of People with Disabilities (edf-feph.org)

On November 24, 2023, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) published its report on “Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support people with disability in the labour market”, which looks at the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a potential facilitator and barrier to the employment of people with disabilities.

Spanish Presidency discussed a “Europe closer to citizens with disabilities.” (edf-feph.org)

The Spanish Presidency of the European Council’s High-Level Meeting on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took place on 16 November in Palma de Mallorca. On the agenda: European Disability Card, Political Participation, Cooperation with Latin America, and the rights of women with disabilities.

2023 EU Gender Equality Index: Women with disabilities still left behind (edf-feph.org)

On 24th October, the European Institute on Gender Equality published its 2023 Gender Equality Index.   The Gender Equality Index assigns a score from 1 to 100 to the EU and its Member States.

OSCE releases recommendations to ensure equal access to political participation (edf-feph.org)

The Organization for Social Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) released a set of recommendations on the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life, also referred to as the Dublin Recommendations, on 3 December.

European Parliament’s Disability Rights Week days 1 and 2 (edf-feph.org)

This debate took place on 28 November and focused on the challenges children with disabilities face in accessing education in the Global South, along with the suitable solutions to address these challenges.

Her Guide Dog Inspired Her Art. Now the Lab Stars in a Museum Show. (nytimes.com)

After losing her sight in an accident, Emilie Gossiaux found meaning and art in a bond with her dog, London, celebrated at the Queens Museum.

Queens Museum (queensmuseum.org)

Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the Queens Museum is a home for the production and presentation of great art, intimately connected to our community and to the history of our site.

Will fashion ever be truly diverse? (washingtonpost.com)

A new program at Parsons School of Design aims to close the gap for designers with disabilities.

Pacific Arts Aotearoa by Lana Lopesi (penguin.co.nz)

The powerful and dynamic legacy of Pacific arts in Aotearoa, as told by the artists themselves.

Jason Powell-Smith’s Bay Area (smingsming.com)

Bay Area artist Jason Powell-Smith walks, bikes, rides BART and AC Transit, and occasionally will board an Amtrak train from Fremont where he lives, to NIAD Art Center in Richmond where he creates. He will ride BART to different stations just to see the station, or he jumps on a bus to San Francisco after being in the studio all day just because he likes to ride the bus in the city and watch life out the window. Jason takes in the Bay Area, and Jason Powell-Smith’s Bay Area is his Bay Area story.

Bringing creative ideas to life (creative.vic.gov.au)

With the next round of applications now open, we talked to Samara Cunningham, Artistic Director of Gippsland-based inclusive theatre ensemble (it’s no) drama – a 2022 Creative Projects Fund recipient – about what the funding has enabled the company to achieve.

8 Times When Films Or Shows Got Disability Representation Right (feminisminindia.com)

Here is a list of films or shows where not only persons with disability were cast in diverse roles, but when they took things into their hands, and helmed projects that tell their stories.

Serendipity Arts Festival 2023 (serendipityartsfestival.com)

The 6th Edition of Serendipity Arts Festival rolls out performances, exhibitions, and more! Join us in Panaji, Goa for the largest art festival in India!

How Serendipity Arts Festival is breaking the ableist narrative (thehindu.com)

In its eighth year, Serendipity Arts Festival continues to show why access is not just a checklist on its agenda.

A Conversation with Colin Arthurs (excal.on.ca)

Colin Arthurs, AMPD student, discusses the ways in which his disability and masculinity intersect in his recent exhibition at the Gales Gallery.

‎The OneBeat Podcast: Sickness Diary with Anna RG (podcasts.apple.com)

In this seventh episode of Season 2, Kyla-Rose speaks with artist Anna RG, about her navigation of chronic illness, since contracting COVID in the early days of the pandemic. With a practice previously grounded in Appalachian folk music, she is a fiddler, banjo player, filmmaker, archivist, visual artist and researcher -- a storyteller in many forms. This conversation centers around Anna’s new world and practice, in sickness; and the two discuss the impacts of illness on her ideas of the possibilities of music, engagement with disability justice, and imagining ways that sick and disabled musicians could be better supported, connected, and uplifted.

Substack and transgender people (transgendermap.com)

Substack is a subscription newsletter publishing platform that is the service of choice for anti-transgender activists and media figures. The New Republic describes its power base as “white male contrarians with a talent for Twitter theatrics.”

Virtual VSC: Writer to Writer: Chris Martin & Rowan Riggs (vermontstudiocenter.org)

Virtual VSC: Writer to Writer: Conversations on Craft & Featured Readings series pairs writers together to read from their work and to discuss all aspects of being a working writer. These live virtual events are a window into a writer's life and also provide access to, and a platform for, diverse voices and writing talent across genres. Conversations may touch on craft, literary friendship, publishing, sustaining a writing practice, and more.

Community Care Clinic for Disabled and Chronically Ill Movement Folks (peopleshub.org)

Ongoing through fall and beyond: A community care peer support space for disabled and chronically ill people.

Inclusion indicators 2023: Union of equality? Here’s the reality (inclusion.eu)

Half of EU countries don’t allow people with intellectual disabilities to vote. 700,000 people are forced to live in harmful segregated institutional “care”.

Publications catalogue - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion (ec.europa.eu)

The primary objective of this study was to elaborate on alternative policy options and legal instruments with a view to examining the possible introduction of a European Disability Card.

ENIL-ECCL Webinar series 2023: Building blocks (youtube.com)

This webinar looked into some of the building blocks that allow a person to live in the community.

ENIL-ECCL Webinar series 2023: Getting People Out (youtube.com)

This webinar is about getting people out of segregated settings, such as institutions and day care centres.

Personal Assistance for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (youtube.com)

Types of support provided by personal assistance, the role of families in coordinating the personal assistance, needs assessment, eligibility criteria and funding mechanisms – experiences from different countries.

San Cristóbal de La Laguna wins 2024 Access City Award for advancing accessibility for persons with disabilities (ec.europa.eu)

Today, the Spanish city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna received the 2024 Access City Award, for its comprehensive approach to accessibility and its dedication to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The award was presented this morning at the Access City Award Ceremony by European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli.

Independent Living Survey 2023 (enil.eu)

The publication of the Independent Living Survey 2022 on personal assistance was just the start, and we have decided to produce annual updates. Due to the upcoming European Elections in June 2024, the Independent Living Survey 2023 focused on the topic of political participation of disabled people. It revealed that many disabled people are politically active - 86% indicated they had voted in European Elections or were going to in 2024. Half of the participants said voting was complicated for them because of a lack of accessibility. However, some respondents indicated accessibility in their local polling station was good, showing that progress is possible. When it comes to passive electoral participation, respondents were more pessimistic. 78% said that running for office would be somewhat difficult or very difficult for them. Prejudices among political parties and voters were cited as causes. To improve the participation of disabled people in the European Elections, better accessibility practices and the abolishment of guardianship regimes and institutions are needed. Also, we need to encourage disabled people to dare themselves and enter political parties. Already a small group of people can exert a lot of influence in the local organisation of a political party and implement changes.

Stop to the financing of institutions (enil.eu)

The CRPD and its General Comment No 5 demand a stop to the financing of institutions. To see that this demand is put into action, ENIL monitors how EU funds are being spent. There has been anecdotal evidence that state aid, for example subsidies, grants or tax advantages, are also being used to build and maintain institutions in the EU. Member state authorities are responsible for allocating such types of funding, but the EU has extensive competences to police national state aid activities. To find out more, ENIL Policy Coordinator Florian Sanden conducted a case study on the funding of institutions through state aid in Germany and Portugal. We will gather more evidence and start advocacy activities next year. Are you aware of subsidies, grants or other types of financial advantages being granted to providers in your country?

Explainer on Deinstitutionalisation (enil.eu)

Our Explainer on Deinstitutionalisation will help you better understand what ‘deinstitutionalisation’ is all about. It is based on the Guidelines on deinstitutionalisation, including in Emergencies, which are now available in many languages, and in Easy to Read. You can find all the information in our Explainer.

TravelAbility and Destinations International Forge New Partnership to Scale Accessibility in Travel (einpresswire.com)

Because Everybody Needs a Vacation.

Digital Accessibility Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) (open.substack.com)

Creating a metrics oriented hierarchy for tracking accessibility progress.

Captioning: It’s Time for a Revolt (accessability.substack.com)

What if every person who was deaf, Deaf, had hearing loss (plus those peoples’ friends and family) refused to do business with a company that didn’t caption its videos? I saw an article recently, which identified strategies that business people who don’t want to caption videos should use to try and avoid it. Basically, it advocated strategies for business people to deliberately choose which allows them to discriminate against people with hearing loss if they don’t feel like paying for captioning. I’m not going to link to it or mention the author’s name because he doesn’t deserve the attention. But this article made me mad. Really really mad. Full-on “Mama bear, go off the deep-end” mad. Because my daughter is deaf, and when you don’t caption, you are hurting my child.

Disability Inclusion Scoring Card (linkedin.com)

A signature mark of a Misfit Media training is that it always comes with an opportunity to compare and contrast media, and how that affects our implicit biases. Contrary to popular opinion, just because content is "inclusive" (aka features disability) doesn't mean it's good.

Extra $25bn needed to make NDIS sustainable by boosting other disability services, actuary says (theguardian.com)

Chair of Actuaries Institute committee says money could go towards establishing early intervention programs for those with developmental delays.

Disability News and Mental Health, The Minister Before Christmas (bbc.co.uk)

Mims Davies is the new disability minister but she's in a lower ranked role than her predecessor with other duties to attend to. We speak to James Taylor, Scope's Director of Strategy, plus Caroline Nokes, MP, and Vicky Foxcroft, Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, about what many interpret as a de-prioritising of disability issues.

NSF grant powers digital mapping accessibility for persons with disabilities (disabilityinsider.com)

Vinod Namboodiri, joint faculty member of Lehigh University’s College of Health and P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, has been awarded Phase 2 funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Convergence Accelerator to further develop a digital app to help persons with disabilities navigate indoor environments successfully.

New report welcomes health and wellbeing indicators for Nzers with intellectual disabilities (disabilityinsider.com)

In a new report by Kōtātā insight for IHC using New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), health and wellbeing indicators were used to see how life is for people with learning (intellectual) disability. Overwhelmingly, all indicators show very poorly. This information is not new and proves that nothing has changed since the 2003 To Have An ‘Ordinary’ Life report. This is despite having a lot more focus on disabled people by various governments over the past 20 years, including a Minister for Disability Issues, a Disability Strategy and a Disability Action Plan.

The trouble I have with wrapping gifts with limited hand dexterity (michellesmission.net)

During the holiday season, many people wrap gifts in festive paper and top it with a gorgeous bow. I love the look of wrapped gifts and wish that I could wrap them as well. Having limited hand dexterity makes this easy task impossible for me. Instead, I have to use alternative resources to give presents.

Florida bill proposes mandatory autism training for law enforcement (disabilityinsider.com)

In the upcoming legislative session, a proposed bill aims to require statewide training for law enforcement officers in handling cases involving people with autism. Representative Paula Stark, from Orange-Osceola, sponsors House Bill 829 and plans to advocate for its passage this week.

A Christmas that changed me: My love for the season was dwindling fast – but my Mum saved it (theguardian.com)

Last year, my mother’s sudden loss of vision made me despair. But I had underestimated her strength – and her determination that we would all have a good time.

14 Charts that Changed the Way We Looked at America’s Schools in 2023 (educatingalllearners.org)

Schools had one foot in the shutdown era, still struggling to restore a sense of normalcy that disappeared in 2020. A steep rise in behavioral and disciplinary issues, which many teachers hoped would be only the temporary product of COVID’s generational disruption to routines, stayed with us. Millions of kids have remained separated from their local schools — not because they’re prevented by public health measures from entering the building, but because they’re simply choosing not to attend classes. And across a whole range of academic subjects, actual student learning is lower and slower than it was before the pandemic.

Unlocking STEM Learning: Using AI to Make Graphs More Accessible (educatingalllearners.org)

This article was written by Benji Andrews on December 15, 2023 and published by Benetech.   Benetech’s Benji Andrews, Ron Ellis, Pruthvi Patel, Amreen Poonawala, and Matthew Yip deep dive into Benetech’s inaugural Kaggle competition that explores the intersection of AI and education through innovative graph transcription solutions.

Who Is Beautiful? Depends on the Trends! (retrospectivelily.wordpress.com)

Most would argue that beauty is all in the eye of the beholder; everyone is beautiful to someone! That’s probably true, for the most part. A few seemingly objective markers of conventional attractiveness include a symmetrical face, clear skin, and a “healthy-looking” body. But lots of people without these features have no problem getting attention.…

The Media, Disability, and Me (thenation.com)

Working in media has always been an uphill battle for disabled writers, but an ever-shrinking industry gives “hard” a whole new meaning.

Inclusive retail: Target sees me and my disability (acoupletakesonms.com)

Me, and the estimated 3.3 million people in the United States who have a disability and need to use a wheelchair.

An Autumn of Fascinating Talks (power2inspire.org.uk)

From 7th September through 7th December I have spoken 15 times to an extraordinary range of audiences on a variety of subjects - but mostly about Power2Inspire!

Diversity and Inclusion Assembly (happysmilestraining.co.uk)

This week, the Happy Smiles Training team helped some children prepare for their Diversity and Inclusion Assembly.

10 Top Tips To Improve Accessibility At Your Christmas Party For Neurodivergent Children (criplife.co.uk)

Ella Rides from Captain Fantastic – the UK's number one children’s entertainment company - shares her top ten tips to make your party accessible for neurodivergent children.

Macchu Picchu by wheelchair (accessibletravel.online)

Macchu Picchu by wheelchair. Subscribe to our resources. Accessible travel information worldwide. Resources. Guides. AccessibleTravel.Online.

Everything to Know About the Distance Education Captioning and Transcription (DECT) Grant (3playmedia.com)

3Play Media is an approved vendor for the DECT grant for participating California Community College schools. Learn more in this blog.

DK Metcalf's ASL teacher says Seahawks receiver brings his own flair to the language (npr.org)

Darrell Utley had no idea his client was a football star when they began American Sign Language lessons.

7 Wheelchair Accessible Destinations That Are Perfect for Christmas (curbfreewithcorylee.com)

Any of the destinations listed here are largely wheelchair accessible, and they are truly magical places to spend the Christmas season.

Local filmmaker Charlie Ainsworth wants to make the Twin Cities the ‘hotbed of Deaf Cinema’ (twincities.com)

His latest project is a short film called “Dinner Table Syndrome.”

For Disabled Couples, a Plea for Marriage Equality (nytimes.com)

Twenty couples gathered in Washington to show their commitment to each other and the fight against laws that make it financially difficult for people with disabilities to marry.

Math disabilities hold many students back. Schools often don't screen for them (apnews.com)

Hundreds of thousands of students nationwide face challenges learning math due to disabilities such as dyscalculia.

Thousands in compensation for disabled woman driven to thoughts of suicide by DWP (disabilitynewsservice.com)

A disabled woman who was driven to extreme distress and suicidal thoughts by the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make reasonable adjustments for her disability benefit claim has secured more than £6,000 in compensation.

Well, That Was Something… Disneyland Adventureland Treehouse Disabled Accessible Experience (spinalpedia.com)

We take you on a walk through of Disneyland’s new Adventureland Treehouse disabled accessible experience and of course, we have thoughts.

Tulane University students build specially designed wheelchairs for children with disabilities (cbsnews.com)

A program at Tulane University is creating waves of change for young children with disabilities, providing them with specially designed chairs that offer newfound mobility and independence.

Minister ‘not persuaded’ by calls for new law on access to public transport (disabilitynewsservice.com)

A transport minister has failed to back calls for a new law that would address the multiple barriers faced by disabled passengers trying to access public transport.

What one wheelchair user thinks about being called “wheelchair-bound” (accessability.substack.com)

The phrase is still in widespread use and needs to be banished, just like the “r” word.

Accessible Social Media (accessability.substack.com)

Including, not excluding, people with disabilities from social media platforms is not hard. But it does require attention to detail Social media is a very popular tool among people with disabilities to stay connected despite the fact that most social media tools are not fully accessible. Staying connected electronically is even more important if a disability prevents a person from being able to easily travel.

Make People with Disabilities Part of your Accessibility Testing Program (accessability.substack.com)

Do you have an optimal accessibility testing program abilities mix? Let’s say you need surgery. You go to a surgeon in your insurance network. “Sure I can do this surgery,” the surgeon says. “How many times have you done this procedure?” you ask. “Dozens of simulations,” says the surgeon.

Makers Making Change: Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (newmobility.com)

Connecting end-users with engineers to bring assistive-tech ideas to life.

Online Mentoring (accessability.substack.com)

Why giving back should be the obligation of everyone who has had the privilege to be successful.

Accessibility Bingo (accessability.substack.com)

This is not a game you want to win. Especially in Blackout mode.

Big changes & tough choices as a carer (havewheelchairwilltravel.net)

Caring comes with tough decisions and recently we needed to make some family changes that proved heart-wrenching.

Experience: I crowdsurfed to the stage in my wheelchair at a Coldplay gig – and played harmonica with Chris Martin (theguardian.com)

Security told me to get down, but Chris helped lift me over the barrier.

1,374 Days: My Life With Long Covid (nytimes.com)

Chronic illness has a way of picking apart your mind and breaking your heart.

Are we there yet? Barriers to transport for disabled people in 2023 (transportforall.org.uk)

Our research into disabled people's experiences of transport in England: the barriers we face, and priorities for change.

The biggest assistive technology and accessibility triumphs of 2023 (so far) (msn.com)

From AI volunteers to upgraded iPhones, tech advancements are expanding accessibility.

'Barbie' with ASL: What to know about the film version and its interpreter's goal to make 'Deaf children feel seen' (yahoo.com)

With "Barbie" in ASL, its translator hopes "it sends the message that Deaf people and sign language have a place in the world."

Enhancing Accessibility and Efficiency Across Industries: The Expanding Role of Amazon Transcribe And Other AI Services In The Transcription Market (assistivetechnologyblog.com)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a variety of cloud-based services to businesses and individuals, enabling them to harness the power of advanced computing and machine learning technologies without the need for extensive infrastructure. One of these services is Amazon Transcribe, an automatic speech recognition service. This service is used to convert spoken words into written text, a process known as transcription. Transcription services are essential in various fields, such as customer service, media, healthcare, and legal sectors, where converting speech to text enables better accessibility, record-keeping, and analysis. Amazon recently announced significant enhancements to Amazon Transcribe, expanding its capabilities to transcribe speech in over 100 languages. This advancement is powered by generative AI models trained on millions of hours of speech data, as noted in an Amazon blog post. Prior to this, Amazon Transcribe supported 79 languages but with moderate accuracy. The new self-supervised algorithms improve recognition of diverse speech patterns and accents, addressing the issue of overrepresentation of certain languages in training data and promoting consistency in accuracy across all languages.

How do disabled people really feel about the beauty industry? (fashioneyesta.com)

Fashioneyesta conducted a survey of 102 disabled readers and responses found.

Review: How to Dance in Ohio Is a Game Changer for Accessibility on Broadway (theatermania.com)

A new musical seeks to offer a new vision for the Great White Way.

Disability matters (bethmoulam.com)

We hear and read daily about how the government wants disabled people to work. This week we know they are not valuing nearly a quarter of the population. The move to replace the Minister of State for disabled people with a junior minister makes this clear. Long-term strategy?

Interview with Troy Kotsur “To My Father” film (youtube.com)

Renca Dunn interviews Troy Kotsur on the subject of “To My Father” a 23-minute film honoring his father, Len Kotsur. When Troy received his Oscar, he revealed that his father was the “best signer” in the family. The film goes into detail about Kotsur’s childhood in a hearing family, his young adulthood, and the accident that caused Len to become paralyzed.

A beginner's guide to accessible text (blog.pope.tech)

Learn how to create accessible text in your web content.

Accessibility Innovation in Games in 2023 (ign.com)

A group of experts assembled to pick the most accessible games released this year. This is IGN's Noteworthy Advancement in Game Accessibility award for 2023.

Forza Motorsport captures Game Award in Accessibility (sportsgamersonline.com)

Microsoft Studios captures gold at the 2023 game awards as Forza Motorsport has won the award of innovation in accessibility. Forza has been long praised for its accessibility options to players of all walks of life. This is their second award in 3 years as they won for Forza Horizon 5 in 2021. Forza Motorsport is also up for Sports Title of the Year.

How to add alt text on Instagram (and why you may want to) (pocket-lint.com)

Make your Instagram posts more accessible by adding alt text to your photos. Here's how.

Embracing the Future: Website Design Tips Set to Trend in 2024 (deadlinenews.co.uk)

In the ever-evolving realm of web design, staying ahead of the curve is essential for creating websites that not only captivate audiences but also reflect the latest trends and technologies. As we look forward to 2024, anticipate a shift in design aesthetics and user experience preferences.

Keywords Studios forges ahead in accessibility with game testing initiative (venturebeat.com)

Keywords Studios, a global technical and creative services provider for gaming and entertainment, is moving accessibility in games forward with a new initiative.

Sony’s New Access Controller Reveals a Big Problem in Adaptive Gaming (wired.com)

Sony’s new Access controller is a welcome addition to accessible hardware solutions. But its high price tag is a reminder of the cost that gamers bear simply for being disabled.

Activision highlights accessibility features in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (venturebeat.com)

Activision revealed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has a variety of features to make the game more accessible to players.

Upcoming indie game Harmonium: The Musical looks to champion accessibility in new ways (techradar.com)

Deaf and signing proud.

More Than Half Of All Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II Players Used The Game's Graphical Accessibility Settings (gameinformer.com)

Activision Blizzard says it's too early to know the accessibility-related stats for this year's Call of Duty.

“We are never going to be able to get to a good place in accessibility unless we focus on this notion of prevention”: 5 questions with Evinced's Navin Thadani (tearsheet.co)

Accessibility is complex but according to Evinced's CEO and co-founder Navin Thadani, automation and a preventive approach can help.

What does a building need to call itself 'accessible' – and is that enough? (theconversation.com)

The disability royal commission and the NDIS review have called for consistent accessibility standards. That could improve inclusion, health and wellbeing for people with disability.

Access Infinity: Bringing Accessible Content to Print Disabled Users in Developing Countries (wipo.int)

The Access Infinity platform from Tata Consultancy Services is transforming the lives of millions with print disabilities in India. A recent agreement with WIPO opens the possibility of extending these benefits to more than 50 other countries. Charudatta Jadhav, one of the platform’s main architects, discusses the platform’s development and its transformative impact.

Disabled-friendly apps and barrier-free facilities should be prioritised: DEPWD secretary (deccanherald.com)

Not just smartphones, public structures such as sports stadiums, and toilets need to be designed thoughtfully to ensure there is fewer barriers for disabled persons to use the facilities with less hassle.

'Really great': City approves multi-year accessibility plan (orilliamatters.com)

Plan for 2023-28 'a guideline and reference tool' for improving accessibility in city

Calgary recognizes winners of the 2023 Accessibility Awards (livewirecalgary.com)

Bill Ogilvie said they’ll try to help anyone who comes to them with an idea on how they can help make life easier for people with accessibility challenges.

'This is a huge issue': Wheelchair user denied service at 'accessible' restaurant (dailydot.com)

A woman who uses a wheelchair says that she was denied service at a restaurant that claimed to be accessible.

Star Editorial Board: Why are Canadian airlines failing passengers with disabilities? (thestar.com)

Spot checks by the regulator would put the airlines on notice since they could face serious consequences for failure to discharge their obligations.

Hachette UK launches accessibility policy to 'support and empower' staff (thebookseller.com)

Hachette UK has launched an accessibility policy to "support and empower" staff. It outlines best practice for recruiting disabled candidates sharing information about a disability, and internal and external support available to staff.

Empowering Women in the Digital World: Lessons from Women Media Practitioners in Kenya (pollicy.medium.com)

In an era where the internet is a gateway to information, opportunity, and connectivity, it is essential to ensure that everyone has equal access. However, women, particularly in certain regions, face unique barriers that hinder their ability to harness the power of the Internet. In this blog post, we will explore the challenges that women encounter in accessing the internet and the initiatives that aim to bridge the digital gender divide with lessons from women media practitioners in Kenya.

Making museums and attractions more accessible to autistic people (advisor.museumsandheritage.com)

The National Autistic Society sets out its top 5 tips for increasing accessibility for autistic people.

Doctor Who actress says Tardis wheelchair ramp is ‘for every disabled kid’ (independent.co.uk)

Ruth Madeley plays Shirley Anne Bingham in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.

MTN Foundation’s Digital Access for Inclusion empowers 1,400 learners with special needs (chimpreports.com)

In a transformative initiative, MTN Foundation's Digital Access for Inclusion program has opened the doors of technology to nearly 1,400 learners with disabilities across five schools in Uganda this year, marking a significant investment of Shs800 million. This commitment to a connected and inclusive future underscores MTN Foundation's dedication to advancing education through technology.

RSC calls for better career access for chemists with disability (labnews.co.uk)

The Royal Society of Chemistry has criticised its sector in a new report charging that it has done too little to provide opportunities for professionals with disabilities, from entry level upwards.

Disability in the chemical sciences (rsc.org)

The diversity of disability and the need for active allyship. We’re here to help the chemical sciences community create a more open, sustainable and equal environment where everyone is welcome.

Woolworths unveils world-first wheelchair accessible checkout for staff living with disability (delicious.com.au)

For Sydney university student Johnson Chen, working in retail was something he always wanted to do, but using a wheelchair ruled out most jobs for him.

StatCan: 8 million people, 27% of Canadians, have at least 1 disability (ctvnews.ca)

The number of Canadians with at least one disability has doubled in 10 years, a reality that should push governments to help reduce barriers to accessibility, says the head of a human rights organization.

Why is accessibility in learning still an afterthought – and how can HR change that? (peoplemanagement.co.uk)

It appears to sit in the ‘too difficult’ bucket, but it should be the norm to consider all learners’ needs, argues Michelle Parry-Slater.

FG to shut down organisations violating accessibility laws for PWDs (pmnewsnigeria.com)

The Federal Government has announced plans to shut down public buildings that do not comply with the minimum standards of accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from January 17.

FG Mulls closing down buildings violating accessibility laws for PWDs in Nigeria (vanguardngr.com)

The Federal Government has threatened to shut down all public and private buildings in Nigeria that violates the accessibility law on the movement of persons with disabilities, which will be effective from January next year.

Disability: Accessibility problems keep people out of clubs (bbc.com)

One organisation says some people wrongly believe that disabled people don't go out at night.

Fun things to do in Nashville for kids with mobility, sensory, intellectual needs (eu.tennessean.com)

From sensory-friendly exhibits to inclusive parks, here are a few ideas for fun Nashville outings for kids with disabilities.

Robbie’s List: A guide to accessible outdoor recreation in Colorado (summitdaily.com)

Eight-year-old Robbie Cook and his family have emerged as some of the most popular accessible recreation influencers not just in Colorado, but the whole country.

Making Holiday Travel Accessible for All (blueskypit.com)

Variety of PIT services help passengers during hectic travel season.

How Justice of the Pies Made Its New Shop Accessible (chicagomag.com)

At her new bakery, Maya-Camille Broussard ensures that the space is accessible to everyone.

Southwest 'customer of size' policy lets plus-sized passengers get additional seats for free (thenationaldesk.com)

The airline's guidelines offer complementary seats to customers who need more space.

Pickleball helps boost seniors’ mental health, offering 'adaptability and accessibility,' survey finds (news.yahoo.com)

Nearly 70% of seniors reported reduced stress and anxiety after playing pickleball and 64% found the game to be uplifting, according to a new survey. Experts share the benefits along with safety tips.

‘He has the swag with it’: DK Metcalf’s sign language a ‘hot topic’ in Deaf community (theathletic.com)

In the same way the former All-Pro studies opposing defenses, Metcalf meets Tuesdays with a coach to sharpen his signing skills.

Are sports and entertainment venues ADA compliant? A man makes it his mission to find out (komonews.com)

The Americans with Disabilities Act is now 33 years old, but one man is making it his life's work to make sure stadiums and arenas meet the intended expectation.

The pro gamer who has to rely upon sound alone (bbc.com)

How video games are continuing to become more accessible for people with impaired vision.

Rail accessibility upgrades: A large 2024 market sector that should not be overlooked (masstransitmag.com)

Rail transit represents the largest opportunity to expand ADA compliance, and public officials are aggressively accessing federal funding to reverse this problem.

Plans in motion for ultra-accessible hotel at Morgan's Wonderland (sanantonioreport.org)

Gordon Hartman and Morgan's executives are polling people with disabilities and their caregivers to learn more about what makes a good hotel.

How Cosmetic Brands Are Creating More Accessible Makeup (brainandlife.org)

Accessible cosmetics help people with neurologic conditions like essential tremor, stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, MS, traumatic brain injury, and autism, but they also can help people with injuries such as a broken arm or surgery-related limitations.

Baylor Professor Makes Science Accessible for Blind and Visually Impaired Students, Highlighted on NBC News (bn.web.baylor.edu)

High school-aged visitors to Bryan Shaw’s Baylor chemistry lab this Fall received hands-on experiences in high-tech robotics, precise measurements and a variety of tasks they might someday experience in college. Their participation in these activities was truly unique—the students, all from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), found a working lab outfitted with them in mind. As Shaw continues his efforts to make science more inclusive to those with disabilities, they hope it will become more common.

College in Texas helps visually impaired students study chemistry in lab (nbcnews.com)

Baylor University in Texas is making their chemistry labs accessible for students that are visually impaired. Funded by a grant from the National Institute of Health, Dr. Bryan Shaw and his graduate students developed tactile tools that are accessible to sighted and visually impaired students.

Airbnb Executive Suzanne Edwards Talks Adapted Category, Accessible Travel Tips, More In New Interview (forbes.com)

One of the most frequent questions I get from readers and colleagues is about which companies I think are doing right by accessibility. The usual answers apply—Apple, Google, Microsoft, amongst others—are examples of companies with the resources (and commensurate deep pockets) to routinely invest in building best-of-breed accessibility software. Another example is Airbnb, whose work in this realm flies under the radar for the most part. Beyond its app and website, accessibility isn’t conventionally associated with a hospitality company. The reality is the accessibility of the physical world matters as much to Airbnb as its digital presence.

Tech Trailblazer: Uncover Hidden Tactics for Elevating Your Brand with Accessibility Verification (intelligentliving.co)

Explore how digital accessibility verification promotes inclusivity, enhances diversity, ensures legal compliance, and strengthens your brand.

IDEAS: British Airways Introduces Signed Video Content for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Customers (skift.com)

British Airways is set to provide more enhanced signed video content for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.

6 Ways Interpretation and Accessibility Services Can Increase Engagement at Your Event (transperfect.com)

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, businesses, organizations, and institutions must be ready and able to communicate with a broad audience. One powerful way they can achieve this is through interpretation and accessibility services during meetings and events. Interpretation and accessibility are a dynamic duo because they allow for the ablity to reach all people regardless of how they take in information. Can’t hear? ASL and captions are now available, don’t speak English? A professional translator can be available on the fly. These services are crucial for breaking down language and physical barriers, enabling organizations to connect with a more extensive and diverse audience. This blog will explore how interpretation and accessibility services can help increase engagement with a broader audience.

Tell the Census: Nothing About Us Without Us (ndrn.salsalabs.org)

The Census Bureau proposed changes to the disability questions in the American Community Survey that will have a negative impact on the data that is collected.Tell them no changes without input from the disability community.

Holiday Decor Shopping with a Screen Reader on a Touch-Screen Device (blog.usablenet.com)

Explore a blind shopper's blog on navigating online Christmas decor shopping. Discover challenges, insights, and the importance of web accessibility.

Announcing the iOS SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques Open Source Project (linkedin.com)

CVS Health is releasing a new open-source project, iOS SwiftUI Accessibility Techniques, which demonstrates iOS SwiftUI Accessibility programming techniques using live good and bad examples that can be tested with VoiceOver and other assistive technologies on iOS.

The trends of 2023: The accessibility of visual effects tools and technology (tvbeurope.com)

ACCESS:VFX founder Simon Devereux looks at the drive towards diversity and inclusion in the visual effects industry, and how the industry is becoming democratised thanks to the availability of technology.

Using Inclusive Design to Improve Our Public Spaces (downtowndetroit.org)

The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s underlying mission is to create a Downtown that is clean, safe, and welcoming to all. If that sounds simple, it’s not. We accomplish this through myriad activities that include strategic investments in the Downtown, economic development activities, public policy advocacy, placemaking and park activations, and engaging in forward and critical thinking, among other initiatives, that put Detroit ahead in urban innovation.

Wix Picks: The Website Maker's 2024 Predictions and What to Do About Them (inc.com)

Wix technology powers thousands of websites at many small and midsize enterprises. Its forecast of 2024 trends is worth studying.

How the R.E.A.D. project is making museum labels more accessible (museumnext.com)

Phil Jones, Head of Digital Innovation at the Cornwall Museums Partnership, shares how the R.E.A.D project looked to tackle one of the biggest hurdles in museum accessibility: the label. In a world of flashy, face-paced, AI-driven tech, Phil and his team engaged with specific audiences to create a solution whose genius lies in its simplicity.

Designing for Inclusivity: Accessibility in Commercial Architecture (chartattack.com)

Commercial architecture has advanced significantly over the years, moving beyond aesthetics and functionality to incorporate another vital aspect – accessibility. Today, accessibility in commercial architecture is not just about elevators, ramps, or doors wide enough for wheelchairs; it encompasses a broader spectrum of features that promote equitable use for people with a variety of physical abilities. This shift towards inclusivity represents more than a nod to human rights; it’s a pragmatic recognition that creating environments that are accessible, and usable, for all potential building users is simply good business practice.

Holiday gatherings spotlight rise in Alzheimer's cases and challenges (weartv.com)

The number of people of all ages living with Alzheimer's and other dementias is growing.

Making Sense of Complex Accessibility Regulations (forconstructionpros.com)

Accessibility compliance is an important aspect of any construction or building project and firms need to remember that there are numerous rules both at the federal and state level which can impact them.

Accessibility via Telehealth for Older Adults in Rural Areas (telehealth.org)

Across America, there are distinct challenges for older adults in rural areas that are seeking healthcare.

6 Ways To Embrace Neurodiversity In Leadership Development (forbes.com)

Integrating neurodiversity into leadership development: Six strategies for inclusive training and the benefits of embracing diverse perspectives in leadership.

Disability’s not the issue, accessible technology is (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

India Business News: When Pranay Gadodia was in his third year of undergraduate studies, he was diagnosed with retinal degeneration.

Braille Letters Deliver Smiles to Kids Across America (brailleworks.com)

We had the wonderful opportunity to help Santa Claus. We delivered his letters in braille and large print to kids with visual disabilities.

ADC helps make traveling more accessible (youtube.com)

Autism Double-Checked offers resources to airlines, hotels and airports to ensure the travel experience is accessible to individuals with autism.

Augmented Reality and the Future of Web Design (lbbonline.com)

Little Black Book, STAUFFER's Daniel Clauser on the pillars of great UX and how they translate to AR.

Web Accessibility: 5 Essential Steps for Travel Websites (thetecheducation.com)

Creating an inclusive travel website requires understanding and addressing the diverse needs of all travelers. From integrating assistive technologies to staying updated with accessibility standards, each step is crucial in building a travel website that welcomes and caters to users of all abilities. That is why companies like accessiBe have developed web accessibility solutions so that travel companies can improve not only their audience reach but also make their websites more inclusive for all users.

Navigating Web Accessibility Law in 2024 (blog.usablenet.com)

Learn about the current state of accessibility law and steps you can take to ensure digital accessibility in 2024.

Why are accessible documents important? (techtarget.com)

The importance of accessible documents boils down to two parts: It's good for business and ensures compliance. Discover what this strategy can do for you.

How to make work from home more effective (abilitynet.org.uk)

Working from home can be a great way to improve your productivity and work-life balance, but it can also be challenging to stay focused and motivated. This blog post will discuss some tips on how to make remote working more effective with cost-effective, or even free, software solutions.

Tech Tools for Dyslexia at work, in education and at home (abilitynet.org.uk)

Join our free webinar with the British Dyslexia Association to discover the power of technology for breaking down barriers for dyslexic learners in work, at home and in education.

What are Reasonable Adjustments? (abilitynet.org.uk)

There are more than 4.4 million disabled people in work. (Labour force survey October to December 2020.)

Disability and accessibility-related events calendar (abilitynet.org.uk)

As a pan-disability charity AbilityNet links with awareness-raising days/week/months to support the work of other organisations and highlight the role of technology in helping people with all kinds of disabilities and conditions.

Disability Inclusion Insights: the Workplace Inclusion Podcast (abilitynet.org.uk)

Our Disability Inclusion Insights podcast series interview leaders in workplace disability inclusion from across industries and around the world.

Speak to our workplace experts (abilitynet.org.uk)

Use the form below to contact our team, indicating which service you are interested in and we will contact you to discuss your options and to help you identify the right service for you.

Online eLearning modules for workplaces (abilitynet.org.uk)

AbilityNet's affordable online training courses will educate your organisation's staff about digital accessibility.

Disability Inclusion Gap Analysis (abilitynet.org.uk)

Our consultants will work with you to conduct a gap analysis on your employee journeys through the organisation, from recruitment to onboarding, culture and career development.

How to build a disability inclusive workplace FREE (abilitynet.org.uk)

AbilityNet employee inclusion journey gap analysis taster.

The human aspect of technology (mlangendijk.medium.com)

Over the past few years, we’ve seen many awesome and important advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence. When ChatGPT became available, many companies jumped at the opportunity to replace or remove the human aspect of (parts of) their businesses. While it might benefit business economics, is it really what people want? What about the human aspect of the technology we use in our everyday lives?

My accessibility wishlist for 2024 (thebookseller.com)

All I want for Christmas is equity in publishing.

A disabled farewell to 2023 (disabilitydebrief.org)

Reflections on my year and how Judy's passing changes our movement.

Observable Flutter #31: Accessibility (youtube.com)

Watch as Craig Labenz is joined by Manuela Sakura Rommel to discuss advanced accessibility tips and tricks for Flutter apps.

Web Development Trends of 2024 (thecodework.medium.com)

Web development has come a long way since the inception of the World Wide Web.

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey (webaim.org)

The following survey is a follow-up to previous WebAIM Screen Reader User Surveys. This survey is primarily intended to collect new information and track updates/trends from previous surveys. By completing this survey you will help inform development choices for those creating accessible web content and web standards. All screen reader users, even those who use screen readers only for evaluation and testing, are invited to participate.

Why Accessible design? (medium.com)

The purpose and impact of designing for accessibility.

Insights: Mobile accessibility (makeitfable.com)

Mobile accessibility is a critical aspect of the digital landscape, and the insights shared in this article highlight the importance of prioritizing it in design and development.

Adobe Announces Next Generation ‘Spectrum’ Design System, Built ‘For The Future’ With Accessibility In Mind (forbes.com)

The announcement was written by senior director of experience design for Spectrum Shawn Cheris.

AI for non-standard speech and inclusive GPS: Meet the impact startups using tech to tackle the disability divide (sifted.eu)

With more than 1bn potential users, startups working in the disability tech space can have a huge impact and scale faster with AI.

PowerPoint for the web gains support for closed captions in Microsoft's latest push to improve accessibility (windowscentral.com)

You can now insert videos with closed captions into PowerPoint for the web.

Apple’s iOS 17.2 Update Delivers On The ‘Accessibility Is For Everyone’ Mantra—In Reverse (forbes.com)

From an accessibility standpoint, iOS 17.2 brings with it some noteworthy enhancements.

Amex GBT launches global accessibility... (travolution.com)

It supports travellers with visible and invisible disabilities.

Inside dbt Labs’ Efforts To Make Conferences Accessible To Everyone, Inside And Out (forbes.com)

At its annual Coalesce conference in October, the company make the in-person venue as accessible as possible for disabled attendees.

Boosting Inclusivity and Accessibility in Your Psychology Practice (miragenews.com)

This infographic outlines a few considerations to keep in mind to ensure your psychology practice is inclusive of patients living with disability.

Now Microsoft PowerPoint for the web can add videos with closed captions (theverge.com)

Subtitles are becoming much more common online.

How Meta’s New Face Camera Heralds a New Age of Surveillance (dnyuz.com)

For the past two weeks, I’ve been using a new camera to secretly snap photos and record videos of strangers.

Avanti West Coast Expands Accessibility with new technology (railtechnologymagazine.com)

Avanti West Coast has partnered with GoodMaps to introduce new innovative wayfinding technology, to three more of its stations on the West Coast Main Line: Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, and Rugby. This expansion further enhances the accessibility of Avanti West Coast's services, particularly for blind and visually impaired customers.

Magical bridge sets the benchmark for playgrounds in New Zealand (nzherald.co.nz)

The Magical Bridge Playground has something for everyone.

Visor Wayfinding Solution Wins Best Accessibility Solution (railway-news.com)

Visor has been named the winner of the 2023 Automation & Self-Service Awards in Accessibility at the Self-Service Innovation Summit in Miami.

Microsoft's Seeing AI App is Now Available on Android (cnet.com)

The app helps people who are blind or low vision scan documents and currency and can describe their surroundings.

5 Disabled Folks on How to Welcome Everyone During the Holidays (cupofjo.com)

A list of helpful tips for making sure disabled guests feel comfortable.

Welcome! - Disabled & Deaf Trans People's Survey (dtpsurvey.org)

Welcome, community, to the first everDisabled and Deaf Trans People’s Survey! We are so glad you made it. We appreciate you.

Advertising Disability (routledge.com)

Advertising Disability invites Cultural Disability Studies to consider how advertising, as one of the most ubiquitous forms of popular culture, shapes attitudes towards disability.

Rights ignored, no protection, no safety net, no real engagement, DPOs tell Covid inquiry (disabilitynewsservice.com)

Disabled people were left without protection, written out of key investigations and proper consultation, and had their rights ignored by the UK government during the pandemic, four national disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have told the Covid inquiry.

Old-fashioned capitalism can’t help Britain’s lost workers get back in a job (theguardian.com)

The drive to make ill and disabled people productive again needs joined-up thinking, not a punitive regime of sanctions.

KIT 2023 Holiday Book List: Showcasing Diversity & Disability (kit.org)

As the holiday season approaches, KIT is thrilled to foster a sense of belonging and highlight the values of diversity and disability inclusion with our curated Holiday 2023 Book List.

Love Actually: Emotional Response Essay (rockfordisability.com)

With the Christmas period in full swing, there is nothing better than watching festive films. One of my favourites is Love Actually. While at college studying Film Studies, I chose to write an essay on my favourite scene, in which the young boy Sam chases his “true love” through the airport.

The web is getting less accessible to people with disabilities (accessability.substack.com)

And that’s a miserable thing during the current COVID-19 crisis if you are one of them or close to someone who is.

Where is the best organizational location for Accessibility? (accessability.substack.com)

Wooden sign post showing three directions: This Way, That Way, and the Other Way Accessibility is the little red hen of the business world. Almost everyone wants the accessible experience, however, not everyone wants the responsibility of making that happen. Complicating matters is that not all potential locations for an accessibility team are the best fit. I have worked with people with disabilities for more than 15 years, and in each organization, the accessibility team has been in a different part of the company. Here are some of the places I’ve seen Accessibility located, along with pros and cons.

This Week in Accessibility: Mendez v. Apple (accessability.substack.com)

A cartoon apple with diagonal rainbow stripes and a bit taken out of the top right corner.

How the focus on Digital Employee Experience is leaving out People with Disabilities (accessability.substack.com)

“Digital Experience” and “Digital Transformation” are rapidly trending titles on job boards. But what does that mean? And does the digital employee experience and digital transformation work for people.

My favourite books on accessibility and related topics (accessability.substack.com)

Since I’m wrapping up authoring my first book on accessibility, I’ve been reading a lot. Here are my thoughts on the most impactful books I’ve read recently.

How to Stop People from Filing Repeat ADA Lawsuits (accessability.substack.com)

Name tag that that says “Hello I am . . . Suing You”.

Are you guilty of “inspiration porn”? (accessability.substack.com)

Inspiration porn is everywhere. It is a form of unconscious bias that hurts people with disabilities.

5 new accessibility tools to help game developers (abilitynet.org.uk)

Leading game developer, Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it will make five of its proprietary accessibility tools free to use by other game developers.

ColorADD - ColorADD code as a color identification tool for color blind people. (coloradd.net)

ColorADD® is a unique, universal, inclusive, and non-discriminative language that enables the color blind to identify colors, whenever color is a factor of identification, orientation, or choice.

UNO Coloradd Card Game For Color Blind And Color Sighted Players In Travel Tin (shop.mattel.com)

Pick up UNO ColorADD card game for the color blind and color sighted to play together. Find more Mattel games at Shop.Mattel.com.

Disability future (lucywebster.substack.com)

Hello, It’s already the end of Disability History Month and I’ve been thinking about this year’s theme, which is disability in children and young people. Mostly, I’ve been thinking about how we make the world a better place to grow up disabled. In fact, I’m increasingly convinced that nothing else we do as activists or advocates really matters if we’re not also directly helping today’s disabled kids and teenagers and those who will come after them.

“If you make that choice, he will end up in prison.” (motherjones.com)

Black students are overrepresented in programs designed to help kids with social-emotional issues. As a former teacher, I've seen that this separation can be its own kind of segregation.

Bank CEOs express support for Supplemental Security Income reform. 'This definitely should be fixed,' Jamie Dimon says (cnbc.com)

Wall Street CEOs, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, showed support for updating Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Biden administration announces $37B in funding to benefit seniors, disabled Americans (thehill.com)

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that $37 billion in funding has been committed to benefit seniors and Americans with disabilities since the start of the administration.

Anger as Sunak scraps dedicated minister for disabled people (theguardian.com)

No 10 will pass responsibilities to an existing member of government, which charities say is ‘retrograde move’.

Disabled people don’t need a minister, thinks Sunak – they just need to try harder (theguardian.com)

In the afterglow of his Christmas drinks at No 10, the PM looks back on a successful year and decides to make one more world-beating decision.

Reflecting On My Years in Physical Therapy (zacharyfenell.com)

Physical therapy (PT), the term likely conjures up much emotion. I know. Reflecting on my decade-and-a-half in PT, much comes to mind.

Minister for Disabled People - role to be merged with others (ablemagazine.co.uk)

While the Government scrambles to throw the kitchen sink at the ‘small boats’ issue by appointing two new migration ministers and putting more resources into its almost certainly doomed Rwanda scheme, it has also come up with the ultimate austerity measure – combining the position of Minister for Disabled People with other roles.

Downgrading of Disabled People's Minister Denounced by Sight Loss Charities (pocklington.org.uk)

The largest charities working with people with sight loss have come together to share their grave concern at the decision not to appoint a dedicated Minister for Disabled People and to add the role to an existing less senior role.

There’s no roadmap for being an adult with a disability. So I’m making my own (wbur.org)

I wanted to live alone, go to college and find a girlfriend, writes Samuel Habib. I asked some of the most famous disability advocates for advice.

Airbnb Executive Suzanne Edwards Talks Adapted Category, Accessible Travel Tips, More In New Interview (forbes.com)

One of the most frequent questions I get from readers and colleagues is about which companies I think are doing right by accessibility. The usual answers apply—Apple, Google, Microsoft, amongst others—are examples of companies with the resources (and commensurate deep pockets) to routinely invest in building best-of-breed accessibility software. Another example is Airbnb, whose work in this realm flies under the radar for the most part. Beyond its app and website, accessibility isn’t conventionally associated with a hospitality company. The reality is the accessibility of the physical world matters as much to Airbnb as its digital presence.

Making Care Pop: What We See and Don’t See About Caregiving on TV (seejane.org)

Caring Across Generations partnered with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to conduct a content analysis of the representation of care, especially aging and disability care, in scripted television programs from 2021. Our key findings reveal.

What was the transformative influence of Deaf West Theatre on Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur? (facebook.com)

Learn how his time on our stages shaped him into the actor he is today. Support innovative theatre by making a donation to inspire the future of Deaf performers!

Preparing for Rare Disease Day 2024 (nationalpress.org)

Lisa Sarfaty of NORD and Lindsey Smith of Osmosis from Elsevier encourage journalists to use their organizations’ resources to connect with patients and develop stories.

Mid-Atlantic ADA Center (adainfo.org)

We support a number of Resource Networks to distribute materials and deliver training programs throughout the region.

Norman Lear Advocated for the Disabled on TV When No One Else Did (thewrap.com)

From "Diff'rent Strokes" to "The Facts of Life," disabled characters always inhabited Lear's television worlds.

The Disability Economy and The Power of Culture (Part Three) (linkedin.com)

American anthropologist Edward T. Hall once wrote that “Culture is not made up but something that evolves which is human.

Rishi Sunak criticised for not appointing dedicated minister for disabled people – UK politics live (theguardian.com)

Previous role-holder, Tom Pursglove, made minister for legal migration earlier this month but will not be specifically replaced.

"Our First Priority" Examines How Medical Gaslighting Prevents Care (respectability.org)

Writer/Director Ariel Baska utilizes music, light, and color to give the topic of medical gaslighting the horror treatment.

Few interpreters, a Byzantine system, and a child in need of learning—welcome to New York (motherjones.com)

Navigating the city’s services for students with disabilities is hard. Even more so for non-English-speaking parents.

U.S. medical schools aren’t teaching future doctors about 7.4 million of their patients (statnews.com)

A medical student and twin sister of a man with profound autism argues future doctors need to learn about working with patients with intellectual disabilities.

BBC Extend Talent Pool (flows.beamery.eu)

The BBC is committed to being adiverse and inclusive organisation, as part of this, we will be ring-fencing roles for disabled and neurodivergent talent. If you're interested to hear from our sourcing team about roles of interest to you, please complete the form below. We'll also let you know about the latest events and opportunities across the BBC.

East west rail has opportunity to lead the way for accessibility on uk railways (eastwestrail.co.uk)

Six months ago we launched an Accessibility Advisory Panel, whose purpose is to understand the potential impacts of our project on disabled people and to help our teams develop the most inclusive solutions for East West Rail (EWR). Mary Doyle, the panel’s co-chair, explains her aims for how EWR can lead the way for accessibility and inclusion.

Waiting Lists For IDD Services Continue To Swell (disabilityscoop.com)

Hundreds of thousands of people with developmental disabilities remain on waiting lists for services across the country and their numbers are growing.

After Tackling 'R-Word,' Disability Group Seeks To Erase Stigma Associated With 'Special' (disabilityscoop.com)

With a new campaign, Special Olympics wants to take back the word "special" and other language that they say has been turned against people with disabilities.

Survey on Young People with Disabilities Participation, Representation and Leadership in Disability Rights Advocacy and Public Decision Making (includemetoo.org.uk)

This survey is part of a research project for the Year of Youth 2023 to 2024 being carried out by the Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network, Include Me TOO, the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Census Bureau wants to change how it asks about disabilities. Some advocates don't like it (abcnews.go.com)

The U.S. Census Bureau wants to change how it asks people about disabilities, and some advocates don't like where things are heading.

6 college students share accommodations that help them succeed (understood.org)

Six college students in the Eye to Eye mentoring network talk about the accommodations that help them succeed in school.

This 28-year-old from Nepal is telling COP28: Don't forget people with disabilities (npr.org)

Umesh Balal is determined to make the voices of people with disabilities, young people and Indigenous people heard at the world's largest meeting on climate change.

How sleep deprivation contributes to my purpose (quirkyquad.com)

WHAT’S WORSE THAN BEING PARALYZED? Sleep Deprivation – Millions Sharing a collective pain together.

High Impact Accessibility on a Budget (accessability.substack.com)

It is easy to spend a lot of money on accessibility. Consulting companies that specialize in accessibility have a high hourly rate, and automated accessibility tools can run tens of thousands of dollars (or more) annually. Employees are typically expensive too, especially in the SF Bay Area where I am based.

Barbie Makes Streaming Debut with Inclusive ASL Version, Celebrating Diversity and Innovation in Entertainment (assistivetechnologyblog.com)

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Barbie movie, which had a record-breaking theatrical release on July 21, is set to make its streaming debut on Max on December 15. In an effort to promote inclusivity, a special American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted version, “Barbie with ASL,” will also be available. This version, featuring ASL performer Leila Hanaumi, was created in consultation with the Deaf community. Additionally, a community screening event in Los Angeles on December 14 will feature a post-screening conversation with Margot Robbie, who stars as Barbie, and Leila Hanaumi. This event is in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre and RespectAbility, organizations dedicated to the inclusion and representation of people with disabilities. The film Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, showcases a star-studded cast including America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and others. The film’s narrative explores the lives of Barbie and Ken, with a focus on themes of perfection and existential crises.

Is there a bias against disability in your Unconscious Bias training? (accessability.substack.com)

Disabilities are largely ignored in most unconscious bias training. Here’s why that is important and how to fix it.

Running Accessible Meetings and Events (accessability.substack.com)

A primer to make the lives of participants with disabilities better.

The Ripple Effect (inclusionproject.org)

The Ripple Effect A video testimonial by Kim Robinson – an NIP supporter, friend and advocate “The National Inclusion Program has been life-changing in so many ways.

Disability History Month (happysmilestraining.co.uk)

Disability History Month Read about the work we are doing for Disability History Month and read some feedback about Disability History month.

Warning over cough that ‘lasts 100 days & fractures ribs’ as cases soar 250% (thesun.co.uk)

Plus, all the signs and symptoms parents need to know.

Blind Leader Wins $2 Million Settlement Over Inaccessible California Parks Website (trelegal.com)

On behalf of Bryan Bashin—a blind camping enthusiast and leader in the blindness community—Relman Colfax PLLC and TRE Legal Practice are pleased to announce the settlement of innovative litigation aimed at ensuring the accessibility of public agency websites to visitors with disabilities. Judge Evelio Grillo of the Alameda County (CA) Superior Court gave final approval to a settlement valued at more than $2 million. In addition to securing a remediation remedy, the payment places this settlement in the ranks of the largest resolutions of web access litigation in the United States.

I can't count how many times strangers have said this about my wheelchair (metro-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org)

My wheelchair is my independence, my legs and my freedom. Not a luxury.

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