Basic Myths about Disability I Can't Believe We Still Have to Debunk
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
Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation
Basic Myths about Disability I Can't Believe We Still Have to Debunk (huffpost.com)
To be honest, I was really hoping that what I'm about to write was common knowledge by now. I really wish that society in general understood disability better, but it seems necessary to counter the basic inaccurate beliefs people have about disability and those who live with it.
What Makes a Miracle? (retrospectivelily.wordpress.com)
How do you define a miracle? Is it when something that SHOULD BE impossible happens? ~ I’ve worked to bounce back from an ankle injury for the last year. Because I have a progressive disease called Friedreich’s Ataxia, time is NOT on my side. All the minute tasks of day-to-day life get harder as I…
AXSChat with Sara Faatz (axschat.com)
Sara is the director of the developer relations team at Progress. She has spent the majority of her career in the developer space, building communities, producing events, creating marketing programs, and more. Sara was selected as a winner of Built In’s 2023 Moxie Awards. The annual awards program recognizes women in tech who have made outsized contributions — skills, leadership and accomplishments — to their workplaces, communities and the industry as a whole. Sara advocates for human centred technology.
DanceSyndrome Commissioned to Deliver on National Development Programme (dancesyndrome.co.uk)
DanceSyndrome has been commissioned to deliver our bespoke ‘Inclusion in Action’ workshops as part of a new national Foundation of Nursing Studies’ (FoNS) programme for inpatient Ward Managers who are working across mental health, learning disability and autism (MHLDA) services.
Bears Disability Access ends first national league campaign on high (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Warwickshire Access ended their season on a winning note after competing in the national disability league for the first time.
Volksanwalt Achitz kritisiert Fehlunterbringungen junger Menschen in Alten- und Pflegeheimen (bizeps.or.at)
UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention nicht umgesetzt - immer noch kein Wohnplatz für Sabine S.
Will AI benefit disabled people? New podcast series debates (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
Should Artificial Intelligence (AI) be feared or welcomed by disabled people?
We’re all going on a summer holiday (and allergies won’t stop us) (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
To coincide with the publication of our new food sensitivities factsheet for businesses, Business Disability Forum’s Project Manager Vicky Harker, shares her experience of travelling with a child with multiple food allergies.
We’re all going on a summer holiday (and allergies won’t stop us): Supporting customers with food sensitivities (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
Good weather has finally arrived and the 2024 summer holiday season is in full swing.
Learning disability: shifting the dial on employment (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
Identity means very different things to different people and it can change many times in a lifetime.
Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation (bususers.org)
Bus Users UK has emphasised the need for affordable, accessible and sustainable transport to be a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework.
How Moira Stuart is helping her generation get online (abilitynet.org.uk)
Renowned broadcaster and newsreader, Moira Stuart CBE, has joined forces with AbilityNet and BT Group to encourage older people to learn new digital skills, and raise awareness of online scams.
Non-models recreate bikini covers (stuff.co.nz)
Sports Illustrated models are all gorgeous, but let's be serious - they're a very narrow range.
New Hulu Documentary 'Patrice: The Movie' Highlights A Woman’s Fight for Marriage Equality Within Disability Community [TRAILER] (blexmedia.com)
'Patrice: The Movie,' is a powerful documentary that spotlights one woman’s fight for marriage equality within the disability community.
Creating new classroom spaces for neurodivergent students (opinion) (insidehighered.com)
Michael Tyre offers some insights into how architects and administrators can work together to create better learning environments for everyone.
Home care agencies sue N.Y. in federal court over CDPAP change (timesunion.com)
The state is gearing up to replace hundreds of businesses involved in a popular Medicaid program. Those businesses are turning to the courts.
Hochul needs to shut down this pricey home-health-care power grab (nypost.com)
Gov. Hochul has rightly blasted a $9 billion home health-care program, calling it a “racket” that’s socked taxpayers.
Supporting Community Transition for Individuals with I/DD in Nursing Facilities (ndrn.org)
Across the country, individuals with I/DD are stuck in nursing facilities despite a desire to live in the community with appropriate services and supports.
Rock in Rio’s Sign Language Pumps Up Brazil’s Deaf Audience (billboard.com)
As Katy Perry, Karol G, Iza and more performed, screens at Rock in Rio Brazil showed a sign language interpreter.
Including Disability (ojs.scholarsportal.info)
This series provides cross-disciplinary, cross-disability, and cross-sectional examinations of large-scale social, technological, cultural, and legal barriers faced by disabled people and offers innovative approaches to eliminating these barriers. Too often issues of disability are neglected in discussions of diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality. The Including Disability series gives voice to disabled people and perspectives in considerations of promoting equity and inclusion in employment, education, civic participation, healthcare, commerce, and other vital contexts. We welcome submissions from researchers, educators, students, advocates, artists, and professionals, from disabled people, family members, allies, and accomplices. A peer-reviewed outlet Including Disability welcomes ideas for volume topics and submissions for consideration.
UC’s first Black, deaf academic administrator (uc.edu)
Christopher Johnson is the new assistant dean of inclusive excellence in UC’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS). In a UC profile, Johnson explains what it is like to be both deaf and and Black in academia.
In Person and Livestream Tix – More Access, More Pleasure: A Kink and Disability Panel (tickettailor.com)
A hybrid in-person and virtual fundraiser panel event exploring the dynamic, direct relationship of access and kinky pleasure for all body/minds.
What Michael J. Fox Figured Out (theatlantic.com)
How do you maintain optimism as things keep getting worse?
Can China Promote More Accessible Public Spaces? (sixthtone.com)
A handful of entrepreneurs are opening clubs and founding workshops designed around inclusivity for disabled Chinese.
Macao’s shoddy accessibility projects for the visually impaired have come under fire (macaonews.org)
Many of the city’s barrier-free pedestrian facilities for the visually impaired are not fit-for-purpose, report from the Commission of Audit.
Why Accessible Space Travel Matters for Life on Earth (cntraveler.com)
Beyond Barriers writer Sophie Morgan on what it means to be the first British paraplegic woman to experience a zero-gravity flight.
Feature films to be more accessible to hearing and visually impaired (thehindu.com)
E-Cinepramaan module ensures films meet accessibility standards for hearing and visually impaired, enhancing inclusivity in cinema viewing.
JOIN OR DIE: A film about why you should join a club (joinordiefilm.com)
A feature documentary on the life and work of civic guru Robert Putnam.
Meeting the Needs of America’s Older Adults: Could State-Level Plans Better Inform Planning at the Federal Level? (jchs.harvard.edu)
Between 2022 and 2040, the number of people 85 or older in the US is projected to double. To support the nation’s growing older population, the Older Americans Act (OAA), the cornerstone of the federal aging services system, formed an interagency committee to develop a strategic framework for a national plan on aging. This national effort benefits from the long history of local and state planning efforts that have identified the need for affordable housing, accessible communities, and flexible home-based care for older adults.
Historic Numbers of Americans Live by Themselves as They Age (kffhealthnews.org)
Longer life spans, rising rates of divorce, widowhood, and childlessness, and smaller, far-flung families are fueling a “gray revolution” in older adults’ living arrangements. It can have profound health consequences.
Princeton launches digital access guides for more than 200 buildings, advancing physical accessibility on campus (princeton.edu)
The free guides provide physical accessibility information for academic, administrative and residential college buildings, as well as parking and athletic facilities. The project is among several ongoing efforts to make the campus more accessible and inclusive.
JD Vance Finally Signaled Trump’s True Intentions For Obamacare (huffpost.com)
Here's how to interpret what Republicans have been saying about the Affordable Care Act and prescription drugs.
MPS student without wheelchair accessible bus for two weeks despite assurances from district (tmj4.com)
On Friday morning, after twenty minutes of waiting, no bus came— and again Smith had to drive his son to school without his motorized wheelchair.
Morgan's Wonderland celebrates 15 years of inclusion and accessibility success (expressnews.com)
Opinion: San Antonio is "Inclusion City, USA” because it has adopted a compassionate, service-oriented mentality.
How Maine is making it easier for voters with disabilities to participate in elections (mainemorningstar.com)
The Maine Department of the Secretary of State wants to ensure that all eligible voters, including those with disabilities, can participate in elections.
FDA approves some Apple AirPods to be used as hearing aids (npr.org)
An upcoming Apple software update will allow some AirPods to double as over-the-counter hearing aids. Only 1 in 6 American adults with hearing loss wears hearing aids.
Accessible Aroostook: The Impact (wagmtv.com)
Accessibility is a challenge in Aroostook County, both in terms of physical access and acceptance in the community. In this next segment of Accessible Aroostook, someone who has been directly impacted by a lack of access in our area shares their story.
Spark the Spectrum empowers Arizona voters with disabilities for 2024 election (cronkitenews.azpbs.org)
A Spark the Spectrum workshop, co-hosted by First Place AZ and the Foundation for Blind Children, aimed to empower voters with disabilities with knowledge for the November election. It is part of the ongoing Vote the Spectrum campaign, dedicated to helping those with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities navigate the voting process.
A Business Case For Talking About Invisible Barriers 2024 Voters Face (forbes.com)
No, talking about the election at work won’t hurt your career or make your colleagues feel cringey. Let me explain.
Everyone can bird: Introductory outings highlight accessibility (duluthnewstribune.com)
Several Twin Ports organizations are collaborating on events that invite all Northlanders to get out and start spotting our feathered neighbors.
How to make voting more accessible for people with disabilities (wxxinews.org)
In the first hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Friday, September 13, 2024, guest host Sarah Abbamonte and her guests highlight voting barriers encountered by those with disabilities and how Monroe County can help mitigate those challenges.
Walmart adds accessible carts to stores in 11 states (newsnationnow.com)
New carts have been rolled out at Walmart locations across the U.S.
Walmart rolling out new inclusive, accessible carts at all Missouri locations (fox2now.com)
New carts have been rolled out at Walmart locations across Arkansas and other states with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
Opinion: The MTA is committed to accessibility (cityandstateny.com)
Two years after a landmark ADA settlement, the MTA has made real progress on making subway stations accessible to all.
Welch promotes recreation and economy at first fully accessible trail network in Bolton (vermontbiz.com)
Vermont Business Magazine Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), member of the Senate Commerce Committee, in conjunction with the U.S. Travel “Travel Works” program, hosted an event at Richmond Mountain Trails’ (RMT) The Driving Range, the first fully-accessible trail network, located in Bolton. The event included a hike around RMT’s new adaptive-ready trail system, and a discussion with U.S. Travel, Vermont Tourism, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and State, local and industry leaders on tourism and outdoor recreation in Vermont.
Sen. Peter Welch visits the 1st adaptive mountain bike trail network in Vermont (vtdigger.org)
The trail network is expected to make mountain biking more accessible to adaptive riders, and recreation and tourism leaders see a potential economic boost.
American breaking point: 41% say they're at 'peak stress' right now (studyfinds.org)
The average person feels their head "spinning" from stress a whopping 156 times per year, translating to about three times a week.
Disability Rights Are Voting Rights (fordfoundation.org)
When Detroit Disability Power volunteers audited the city’s polling places for accessibility compliance in 2022, they found something troubling. They looked at four categories of accessibility required by law—accessible parking, accessible entrances, wheelchair-height voting booths, and accessible voting machines—and found that only 12% of the city’s polling places offered all four.
How AI and other technologies are making the world more accessible to the blind (Rebroadcast) (delawarepublic.org)
“The primary problem of blindness,” writes author Andrew Leland, “is access to information.”
Comment: Together we can end the digital divide that disenfranchises 2.6 billion people (reuters.com)
There’s a gold rush today in the digital world, with estimates that the global digital economy could reach $20 trillion next year, fueled by advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 5G and other technological innovations. Yet, in this rush for online prosperity, far too many lack the necessary tools to participate.
Scientists investigating chemicals in America's Parkinson's Belt (dailymail.co.uk)
Two doctors are investigating industrial and agricultural chemicals surrounding concerning clusters of Parkinson's diagnoses in a handful of regions across the country.
Paratransit makes transportation accessible for public (timesleaderonline.com)
When Melissa Ryan developed late-life epilepsy, transportation became an unexpected issue. Based on her condition, Ryan cannot drive within six months of her last seizure. Even if she goes just shy of that threshold without an incident, one seizure will start the clock over again.
How Companies Can Use AI to Better Serve Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Customers (hbr.org)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has served a critical role in advancing accessible and equitable communications for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. But as companies race to automate their customer service operations in recent years, many are inadvertently creating new barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people. Leaders can lean on the vision and spirit of the ADA to create more inclusive and accessible customer service programs in this era of AI. First, they should design customer experiences to be inclusive from the start by considering the requirements of deaf and hard of hearing individuals at every stage of service delivery. Second, they can repurpose a portion of the efficiencies gained from automation to support more complex customer service needs. Third, they should use an expansive mindset when engineering customer experiences by offering multiple channels of communication. Fourth, they must demonstrate socially responsible practices and highlight them in marketing and customer communications. Finally, leaders should involve individuals with lived experience as a person with a disability in the development of any AI-powered application.
7 accessible fall foliage trails (timesunion.com)
Enjoy crisp fall air and take in the colors of fall in the Hudson Valley on one of these accessible trails that can accommodate a variety of mobility levels and equipment.
Best accessible gardens in the UK, according to Mark Lane (countryliving.com)
From botanical gardens to historic estates...
New inclusionary experiences make Florida State Parks accessible to all (eu.tallahassee.com)
Florida has also been at the forefront of creating accessible, inclusive outdoor experiences so that everyone may enjoy our state parks.
Construction already underway is exempt from new B.C. residential accessibility requirements (vancouversun.com)
Condo projects currently in mid-stream will be exempt from the 2024 B.C. Building Code's adaptable-dwelling provisions
Ballot process ‘discriminatory’ say Oasis fans seeking accessible tickets (standard.co.uk)
Sales ended on Saturday for the two dates of the invitation-only ballot.
Critical to the disability justice movement, the Sugamya Bharat App usage decline raises concerns (hindustantimes.com)
This app is part of the Accessible India Campaign (AIC), launched by the social justice ministry’s empowerment of persons with disabilities department in 2015.
Saskatchewan advisory committee aims to improve accessibility in the province (globalnews.ca)
The government of Saskatchewan has formed an accessibility advisory committee to help assess and improve accessibility in the province.
'I know of people who have had to sleep on pool loungers at hotels because the hotel rooms aren’t accessible' (newsletter.co.uk)
A Northern Ireland disability rights campaigner has launched a new initiative that will allow wheelchair users to enjoy ‘all inclusive’ accessibility at local hospitality venues and hotels.
New Te Tai Tokerau Regional Accessibility Strategy (scoop.co.nz)
Northland's local authorities launch the Te Tai Tokerau Regional Accessibility Strategy to enhance community inclusion for individuals with disabilities, responding to the region's significant access needs.
NZTA Commitment To Accessibility Questioned Following Block Of E-scooter Remote Piloting (scoop.co.nz)
Disability advocacy groups criticise NZTA’s decision to block Ario’s remote e-scooter reparking technology, arguing it undermines accessibility and safety in urban environments.
Do you see blue or green? This viral test plays with color perception (theguardian.com)
A visual neuroscientist realized he saw green and blue differently to his wife. He designed an interactive site that has received over 1.5m visits
UN criticizes Netherlands about disability accessibility (nltimes.nl)
The Netherlands is doing too little for people with disabilities in various areas, according to a UN committee that has assessed the situation in the country. In a critical evaluation, the committee shows concern about the accessibility of education, public transport, and the labor market. The members are also critical of compulsory treatment in mental health care, for example: the Netherlands should put an end to this, the members believe.
Nestlé moves to assist consumers with sight loss in forging accessible QR codes (confectioneryproduction.com)
A notable move to assist consumers with sight loss has been made by Nestlé Confectionery, which is trialling Accessible QR codes for its flagship KitKat and Quality Street, which will enable greater ease of access for customers, writes Neill Barston.
Landlord renews call for accessibility standard to be adopted for all new homes in England (insidehousing.co.uk)
Habinteg has highlighted the costs of adaptations as it renewed calls for an accessibility standard to be adopted for all new English homes.
India Mandates Accessibility for Movie Theaters (en.themooknayak.com)
New guidelines require all feature films to offer accessibility features for the hearing and visually impaired by 2024.
“Accessibility Standards” module in E-Cinepramaan successfully deployed (pib.gov.in)
Feature films* to provide at least one accessibility feature each for the hearing impaired and visually impaired.
CBFC announces implementation of 'Accessibility Standards' in cinema theatres (newindianexpress.com)
The objective of these guidelines is to provide an enabling framework to support the development of a culture and practice of accessibility of feature films for persons with hearing and visual impairment, the ministry had said.
Accessibility and inclusion to be highlighted in Chesterfield (chesterfield.co.uk)
Local organisations are shining a light on accessibility and inclusion in Chesterfield, showcasing the support available for people with disabilities.
Provincial report finds accessibility issues at new Toronto courthouse (toronto.citynews.ca)
A new report is backing up some of the claims that a downtown courthouse appears to violate accessibility rules.
$956-million downtown Toronto courthouse plagued by accessibility issues, provincial report finds (thestar.com)
A report commissioned by the Ministry of the Attorney General backs up problems described by disability advocate David Lepofsky.
All future constructions of Stadiums and Offices must comply with the latest accessibility facilities: SCPD issues recommendations to DYRS Nagaland (nagalandtribune.in)
The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD, today, issued recommendations to the Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports, Nagaland giving it three months’ time to comply and submit Action Taken Report to the SCPD Court.
SCPD directs accessibility improvements for sports facilities in Nagaland (morungexpress.com)
The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) has directed the Department of Youth Resources and Sports to enhance accessibility in all sports facilities across Nagaland. This order follows a Suo Motu inquiry served to the department on February 29, 2024, regarding the implementation of accessibility provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act.
Enforce law on building accessibility for PWDs (ghanaiantimes.com.gh)
Former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has joined calls for the speedy enforcement of the law on building accessibility by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) 18 years after its passage.
Digital Accessibility is crucial for an inclusive customer experience yet only 39% of global companies are on track for EU Compliance (cyprusshippingnews.com)
As the European Accessibility Act deadline looms, businesses need to act swiftly to ensure their websites are accessible for people with disabilities
Disability, Accessibility, and AI (towardsdatascience.com)
A discussion of how AI can help and harm people with disabilities
Are you ensuring accessibility? Why safe entry matters as 2025 approaches (thesafetymag.com)
How Kee Safety's modular ramps help businesses address Canada’s growing accessibility requirements
What is Reel Accessibility? Comment by Tim Nolan, advocate for persons with disabilities (bayobserver.ca)
For a good long time Hollywood has featured films depicting people with disabilities. There are probably too many films to mention, but some have gone onto win Oscars for their subject, if not actor performances. In 1947 a Canadian born actor, Harold Russell, won two Oscars for his performance as Homer Parrish in the film The Best Years Of Our Lives. Russell was the first, and only, actor to ever win two Oscars for the same performance in the same film in the same year, one of which was a special Oscar because of his disability. In 1949 James Stewart portrayed Monty Stratton in the film The Stratton Story, a major league pitcher, who lost his lower leg in a hunting accident then making his way back to pitch again in the minor leagues while wearing a prosthetic leg. In 1962 Patty Duke won an Oscar for her portrayal of deaf / blind Helen Keller in the film the Miracle Worker. In 1979 actor Jon Voight won an Oscar for his role as a disabled Vietnam veteran in the film Coming Home. In 1989 Daniel Day-Lewis portrayed Christy Brown in the film My Left Foot winning a best actor Oscar for his performance. In 1986 Marlee Matlin was the first ever Deaf actor to win an Oscar after she portrayed character Sarah Norman in the film Children of a Lesser God. In 2021 the film CODA was released winning the Oscar for Best Picture in 2022.
How to... design an accessible check-in experience (accessiblelink.substack.com)
Because the first impression counts.
Podcast: Accessible housing (part 3) with Jacquie Pepper and Elaine Ritchie (scottishhousingnews.com)
“Partnership work is about relationships, it’s knowing people, it’s understanding each of us have roles and responsibilities but keeping in mind what we’re all trying to achieve at the end of the day and that’s the outcomes for people that live in our communities to allow them to thrive and survive.”
Accessibility preference settings, information architecture, and internalized ableism (ericwbailey.website)
Customization lives at the heart of accessibility.
Unlock Remarkable Progress: Powerful Ways To Transform Accessibility (accessibilityfirstsolutions.com)
Unlocking accessibility: Learn how small steps can transform accessibility efforts and make a meaningful impact.
#041: Advancing Inclusive Communication: Haben Girma on Descriptive Transcripts (accessibilityassociation.org)
If using a Windows screen reader, such as JAWS, NVDA or Narrator, select control+space or control+enter to toggle the play pause function of the embedded media player.
Airport Accessibility Challenges for Passengers with Reduced Mobility (regionalgateway.net)
Chloe Greenbank on how airports are tackling accessibility challenges for passengers with disabilities. We talk with Aerobility and WHILL Mobility Services.
How introducing accessibility earlier helps BBC’s design system (bbc.com)
For some stakeholders, these components are magical in their flexibility; for others, frustrating in their maintenance and configuration.
Food Industry Leaders Embrace Disability Inclusion and Accessibility (fooddigital.com)
The 8th UN Sustainability Goal is to achieve full employment for everyone with a disability. DoorDash & Conagra Brands are doing their bit to achieve this.
Wilco Fiers / Accessibility beyond WCAG: EAA & EN 301 549 #id24 2024 (youtube.com)
EN 301 549 is Europe's standard on ICT accessibility. It includes various requirements not covered by WCAG, including for non-web software, authoring tools, and electronic devices. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), starting June 2025 will mean many organizations across different industries needing to apply these requirements. So in this talk we'll introduce EN 301 549, and learn how it's different from WCAG.
Samarth Survey: Is India Accessible For People with Disabilities? (youtube.com)
Accessible buses, rickshaws, toilets, equipped with handles, braille markers, audio systems - this is a dream half achieved.
User Experience Guide for Displaying Accessibility Metadata 2.0 (w3c.github.io)
The accessibility of a publication is useful to know regardless of a person's abilities, as features such as the ability to make visual adjustments make for a better reading experience for everybody. This document proposes a shared framework for presenting publication accessibility metadata declarations in a user-friendly manner — to offer the information to end users in a way that is easy to understand regardless of their technical knowledge and is consistent across different publications and different digital catalogs.
ADA as a Chance for People With Disabilities (goodmenproject.com)
The ADA is an abbreviation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that aims to give everyone, especially people with disabilities, equal access to online content and services.
How one complaint is changing accessibility at Washington state parks (m.kuow.org)
Washington state parks need to be more accessible to people with disabilities.
Elevating Accessibility: Meyers Beach Ramp Project (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS) is committed to enhancing accessibility for all visitors. With improvements made annually—including the construction of island boardwalks, restroom upgrades, and accessible campsites—the park has prioritized inclusive access. In 2019, APIS opened a new visitor center and fully accessible outdoor exhibits at Little Sand Bay.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Include Accessibility Renovations at Top Public University in New York (architectmagazine.com)
Stony Brook University’s $38M Renovation of Javits Lecture Center Embraces Accessibility with Custom Wheelchair Lifts, Preserving the Iconic Curved Design
Education: The W establishes accessibility navigator position (cdispatch.com)
Mississippi University for Women has established navigator for accessibility and student success services as a new position for the 2024-2025 school year.
UND hosting 'Just Ask: Accessibility & Disability at UND' on Oct. 14-15 (blogs.und.edu)
The Campus Accessibility Working Group will host the Just Ask: Accessibility & Disability at UND conference on Oct. 14 and 15 at the Memorial Union. Registration is free for students, staff and faculty. Join local and national experts to learn more about accessibility and inclusive practices. To register, visit the conference website.
USU Researchers Develop AI Tool to Identify Accessibility Issues at Intersections (usu.edu)
To help cities find intersections with accessibility issues, USU researchers are developing an AI tool that can be trained to identify these problems.
Help Make Campus More Accessible with the Transition Plan Survey (news.fullcoll.edu)
The North Orange Community College District (NOCCCD) invites faculty, staff and students to help make the Fullerton College, Cypress College and North Orange Continuing Education campuses more accessible by completing its brief transition plan survey.
PhD student's research enhances research accessibility for disabled individuals (waikato.ac.nz)
Dr Nicolina Newcombe's PhD research is helping to make academic research more accessible for people with intellectual disabilities.
Trick-or-treat event offers fun, accessible outing for families (unmc.edu)
MMI’s seventh annual trick-or-treat event, slated for Sunday, Oct. 20, is open to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Student Accessibility Services advances technology, Good Life Center at SAS (yaledailynews.com)
Student Accessibility Services plans to implement new models and initiatives to support student accessibility in the new year.
York College Unveils New Devices to Boost Accessibility in Education (york.cuny.edu)
York College Unveils Cutting-Edge Devices to Enhance Accessibility in STEM, the Arts, and Beyond
Student Accessibility Services Commences Helix Pre-Orientation Program (thecollegevoice.org)
Student Accessibility Services’ (SAS) first annual Helix Pre-Orientation program from Aug. 19 to Aug. 21 brought 20 upperclassmen mentors and 28 first-year mentees together in order to provide a new welcome experience for students with disabilities at Conn.
Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October (news.vt.edu)
The Office for Equity and Accessibility (OEA) invites all members of the Virginia Tech community to attend a National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebration in October. OEA’s ADA and Accessibility Services team hosts the university’s NDEAM event annually to recognize the numerous and significant contributions of America's workers with disabilities.
CoSN Report Offers Road Map for Schools to Make AI Accessible (govtech.com)
The Consortium for School Networking and the nonprofit CAST this week released a report on practical steps schools and tech developers can take to ensure new AI tools are accessible to all students.
Accessibility Challenge aimed at solving real-world problems (yourlocalexaminer.com.au)
Forty students from Curtin University recently teamed up with academic, community and industry leaders to develop innovative solutions for the disability sector through an inaugural Learning Futures Accessibility Challenge.
ABLE (Accessibility for a Bolder Learning Experience) (youtube.com)
ABLE (Accessibility for a Bolder Learning Experience), is an initiative by the Office of Information Technology at the American University of Beirut.
Building inclusivity in EdTech: Designing a solution for accessibility (techbullion.com)
The boom in educational technology has opened countless doors for learners across the globe. But, as the industry has started to mature, one question remains unresolved: Is everyone being included in this digital revolution?
Disabled students see challenges, improvements at Tulane (tulanehullabaloo.com)
Tulane University, like many historic colleges, initially designed its campus with only able-bodied students in mind, posing challenges for future students who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters.
Power of Neurodiversity: Why Software Needs a Revolution (techpolicy.press)
Too few websites and apps are designed with neurodiverse users in mind, writes Dr. Rachel F. Adler. Addressing this problem helps everyone.
New Digital Accessibility Requirements (boisestate.edu)
On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), mandating that all public web content and mobile apps, including academic course materials, be accessible by April 24, 2026.
UMD SGA passes bill to promote campus accessibility (dbknews.com)
The bill ensures the Student Government Association will focus on accessibility through universal design standards.
CCIT releases new ADA policies, improves access to resources (thetigercu.com)
Clemson Computing Information Technology has released new and improved policy guidelines to elevate accessibility and access to information across campus. Experts throughout Clemson have worked to build and maintain new accessible resources for students, faculty and staff to further serve the Clemson community.
Engineering Students Innovate Accessibility Technology (spectrum.ieee.org)
They developed an adaptive gaming device and a robotic walking aid
Six ways to promote accessibility in college courses (insidehighered.com)
Creating reasonable accommodations for all students can promote accessibility and student success. Here are six considerations for educators.
LBSTECH Provides API for an Accessible Campus (ktla.com)
Developing an AR Accessible Campus Solution through a Partnership with the University of Rochester.
EK Accessibility Plan survey deadline extended (e-know.ca)
EK Accessibility Plan survey deadline extended
TrickMo Android Trojan Exploits Accessibility Services for On-Device Banking Fraud (thehackernews.com)
Researchers reveal TrickMo banking trojan targeting Android users with anti-detection tactics and accessibility abuse to steal credentials and OTPs.
Ecommpay Enhances Accessibility with New Guide and Inclusive Payments Platform (thefintechtimes.com)
Ecommpay has launched a new brand identity and inclusivity programme, focusing on accessibility, sustainability and financial access.
Rise4Disability: Bringing Accessibility, Innovation, and Inclusivity to Milton Keynes. (mkfm.com)
On October 22, 2024, Rise4Disability is coming to Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, offering a fun and engaging day for all.
Ozzie Awards: Arts Champion nominees make the arts more accessible for all (sgfcitizen.org)
The Springfield Regional Arts Council’s annual celebration of the arts is Oct. 19 at Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Scope publishes ‘most accessible brand yet’ after consulting disabled people (civilsociety.co.uk)
Scope has published its “most accessible brand yet” after consulting with the disabled community.
Accessing the arts: Grants to aid accessibility projects at HLOM, GO ART! (thedailynewsonline.com)
Two Batavia non-profit cultural organizations have received grants to help them improve accessibility to the public.
Bierley church to become more accessible as plans approved (bbc.com)
St John's Church in Bierley is being improved to allow easier wheelchair access.
New Brunswick launches accessibility advisory board with 10 members (atlantic.ctvnews.ca)
New Brunswick has officially launched its Accessibility Advisory Board with 10 inaugural members.
Inaugural festival celebrates outdoor accessibility in the Adirondacks (northcountrypublicradio.org)
The Adirondack Nature Festival for People with Disabilities at Paul Smith’s VIC featured accessible activities like forest bathing, nature sensory play and more.
Vancouver gets rental e-scooters, but accessibility challenges persist (youtube.com)
Vancouver has a new public electric scooter rental system. For now, it will be available in two neighbourhoods, Hastings Sunrise and Grandview-Woodland.
Senator Peter Welch celebrates new accessible mountain biking trail (mychamplainvalley.com)
Senator Peter Welch and other local leaders trekked up the Richmond Mountain Trails Friday to celebrate the state’s newest accessible bike path.
City's downtown parking garages to undergo accessibility upgrades (ashevillenc.gov)
The next phase of the Parking Garage Capital Improvements project kicks off this week, focusing on accessibility upgrades in three of the City of Asheville’s downtown parking garages: Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville (HCCA) garage, Rankin Avenue garage and Wall Street garage.
Travel summit discusses improving accessibility across Ayrshire (newsroom.east-ayrshire.gov.uk)
East Ayrshire Council held a special pan-Ayrshire Equalities Forum last week with a special focus on travel and how best to improve connectivity, accessibility, and sustainability across Ayrshire.
Flourishing Futures Accessibility Grant (albertametis.com)
This program is designed to support Métis Early Learners aged 0-11 across Alberta by covering the cost of services and supports that will address common developmental, social, and emotional barriers to learning.
Sacramento Regional Transit rolls out new, accessible trains (thecrcconnection.com)
Sacramento Regional Transit introduced new light rail trains on Sept. 1 with more accessibility features for people with disabilities. The most recognizable change has been lowering the entrance to the train as well as adding passenger-controlled ramps, allowing wheelchair users to enter and exit without requiring assistance.
Prioritizing accessibility at the Adirondack Nature Festival (adirondackexplorer.org)
Learn how the Adirondack Nature Festival is breaking barriers and creating accessible outdoor experiences for people with disabilities
Public Works Strives To Make Streets Accessible For All (ladailypost.com)
There is more than one way to move around town. Some rev up the car, other people hop onto their bikes but still others tie their shoes and hit the pavement.
City of Kelowna talking accessibility at pop-up events (kelownacapnews.com)
Four pop-up accessibility discussions are being hosted by the city of Kelowna
IVC hires out-of-area consultants for deaf interpreters (ivpressonline.com)
In a recent Imperial Valley College Board of Trustees meeting, the board took action on approving services for American Sign Language interpreters for the school’s deaf community, in a manner in which some are calling “a huge slap in the face.”
New accessibility standards for creativity and culture (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)
Arts Councils announce the UK's first accessibility standards for the creative and culture sector, as part of the All In scheme.
MTA Releases Proposed 2025-2029 Capital Plan (new.mta.info)
$68.4 Billion Plan is the Largest State of Good Repair Investment in MTA History, With More Than 90% Dedicated to Rebuilding and Improving the System.
Accessibility Fan Assembly Announced (stokecityfc.com)
Stoke City supporters with disabilities, long-term health conditions and accessibility needs are invited to attend a Fan Assembly on Monday, September 30 to discuss how the Club can continually improve their experiences.
Accessible Halloween comes to Embrun (thereview.ca)
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 1pm to 4:00 pm, families and caregivers of those with special needs are invited to the second annual Accessible Halloween Trick-or-Treating Event on Marseille Street in Embrun, Ontario. Presented by Ability Hive and GoūtArt Altruism, with major sponsorship from Riznik Electric and Le Bosquet Dogwood and Willow Ranch, this unique event is designed to ensure that everyone can experience the joy of Halloween in a sensory-friendly, accessible environment.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Enhances Accessibility by Achieving the Certified Autism Center™ Designation (tristatehomepage.com)
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) receives the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), demonstrating its commitment to providing an inclusive and accommodating environment for guests with autism and sensory sensitivities. The CAC designation is granted to organizations that undergo specialized training and certification in autism and sensory sensitivities, ensuring a safe and welcoming experience for all guests.
Inside Sign Speak’s Mission To Make Accessibility Out Of American Sign Language And Artificial Intelligence (forbes.com)
For the purposes of this story, Exhibit A of that is Sign Speak.
Ivaylo Dodev, who is deaf in one ear, said a gate agent became "pugilistic" after he said he couldn't hear what they had said to him before boarding.
How Axios HQ’s ‘Smart Brevity’ System Makes Writing And Communicating More Accessible To Everyone (forbes.com)
The company focuses on delivering to readers what essentially are bite-sized chunks of information.
Healing, Bridging, Thriving: Working For The Economic Well-being of Indigenous Artists (arts.gov)
In this #HealBridgeThrive post, Crushing Colonialism's Jen Deerinwater writes about the ways the organization helps support the economic well-being of Indigenous artists and creatives.
Zappar & Ketel One Collaborate to Launch Accessible QR Codes (auganix.org)
Zappar and Ketel One collaborate to launch accessible QR codes on Ketel One products for blind and visually impaired consumers
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Bring These 5 Accessibility Features to Your iPhone and iPad (makeuseof.com)
Some of these features are so good that I use them daily.
How Playground Equipment Aims to Increase Accessibility Through Their Product (gritdaily.com)
Playground Equipment is an example of this proactive approach to meeting customer needs. The company is bringing innovative energy to a traditional industry.
Thrive for Life: Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare and Home Accessibility (accesswire.com)
Thrive for Life, co-founded by Damian Sempio, is leading the charge in making homes wheelchair accessible and safer for individuals with diverse needs, including those looking to age in place. With a unique blend of medical expertise and construction know-how, Thrive for Life is revolutionizing home modifications and accessibility consulting, ensuring that every client receives solutions tailored to their specific requirements, including ADA ramps, wheelchair lifts, and ADA bathrooms.
Trussell Trust changes name and logo to make charity ‘more accessible’ (civilsociety.co.uk)
Anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust has shortened its name as part of a major rebrand designed to “remove barriers” for those using the charity’s services.
Center for Family Care Advocates for Accessible Liturgy Translation (goarch.org)
In honor of Deaf Awareness Month, the Center for Family Care is highlighting the Accessible Liturgy Project, on which they are collaborating with the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States. The Accessible Liturgy Project seeks to create an official translation of the Divine Liturgy into American Sign Language.
Apple Introduces Music Haptics Accessibility Feature Via IOS 18 (lowyat.net)
Apple has officially launched the Music Haptics feature with the release of iOS 18. Introduced as an accessibility tool to enhance the listening experience for users with hearing loss, it integrates with Apple Music on iPhones and utilises the Taptic Engine to create tactile feedback such as taps, textures, and vibrations in sync with the music.
Embedded Google Calendars Gain Some Accessibility Upgrades (talkandroid.com)
If you encounter a Google Calendar embedded into anyone's website, you'll notice things look different.
Sagrada Família gets new tactile models to improve accessibility - Sagrada Família gets new tactile models to improve accessibility - Sagrada Familia (sagradafamilia.org)
The Sagrada Família, in line with its commitment to improving accessibility and desire to provide equal opportunities for everyone, inaugurated new tactile models in the “Central towers” room on Tuesday 17 September.
JIB and Sculpteo make technology accessible to the disabled (voxelmatters.com)
JIB and Sculpteo make technology accessible to the disabled, starting with a 3D printed casing for the JIB EYES device.
Union Springs Unveiling ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch (fingerlakesdailynews.com)
An upcoming ribbon cutting will officially open the Village of Unions Springs’ new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant kayak launch.
WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual by Stacey Swinehart Ganderson (play.google.com)
WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual - Ebook written by Stacey Swinehart Ganderson. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual.
Accessibility and Inclusion @ Micromobility UK 2024 (zagdaily.com)
Industry leaders have gathered at Micromobility UK 2024 in Warwick to discuss how shared micromobility should be made more inclusive for disabled people.
Revamping park pages: A fresh look for BC Parks (engage.gov.bc.ca)
In today’s digital age, BC Parks’ online presence is essential in bridging the gap between people and nature. Whether planning a weekend hike or a family picnic, the first stop is often the park’s webpage. To ensure this initial experience is both welcoming and informative, it’s crucial that our park pages are easy to navigate and provide people with the information they need, quickly and efficiently.
Sociability app maps accessible Newcastle venues (bbc.com)
Sociability is an app which provides accessibility information for people with disabilities.
Paratransit makes public transportation accessible (heraldstaronline.com)
When Melissa Ryan developed late-life epilepsy, transportation became an unexpected issue. Based on her condition, Ryan cannot drive within six months of her last seizure. Even if she goes just shy of that threshold without an incident, one seizure will start the clock over again.
New Accessible Recreation Destinations Map (adirondackalmanack.com)
Enjoying New York State lands is for everyone. To that end, DEC has launched an Accessible Recreation Destinations Map designed to showcase wheelchair-accessible features at New York State education centers, campgrounds and day use areas, waterway access sites, and trails, among other features. The map displays 266 recreational destinations located across New York State for people of all ages and abilities, including: 84 locations with accessible boating facilities; 58 locations with accessible fishing facilities; 44 locations with accessible camping facilities; 50 locations with accessible hiking trails; 10 locations with an accessible beach access route; and 47 locations with » Continue Reading.
Modern home blends efficiency, accessibility (southeastiowaunion.com)
When Virginia and Rick Bordwell had their new home designed, they had two main goals in mind. They wanted energy efficiency, and they wanted every room accessible to their family member, who uses a wheelchair.
There Are Programs To Help Pay For Your Hearing Aids! Here Are 10 Tips (goodrx.com)
Looking for programs to help pay for hearing aids? You have a few options. Here’s what insurance covers, financial assistance options, and where to get hearing aids for free.
Periphery Synthetic is playable by sound alone - is it the next step in accessibility for the blind and visually impaired? (eurogamer.net)
Progress in the blind and visually impaired accessibility space is happening, but it's slow. Periphery Synthetic's sound-first design offers a way forward.
Using Controllers for Keyboard Accessibility (youtube.com)
Just as design systems provide consistency, and reduce duplication of efforts, reactive controllers for web components can be used to provide a consistent accessible keyboard navigation experience.
Illuminating the Invisible: The Beauty Behind the Pain (zeffy.com)
Discover the beauty in resilience at "Illuminating the Invisible" – a special event celebrating the artistic talents of those living with chronic pain.Prepare to be inspired by a diverse collection of artwork, each piece offering a unique perspective on the journey of navigating invisible pain. Dive into the stories behind the art with intimate video features from the artists themselves.Engage in thought-provoking conversations during our artist panel, where personal experiences and creative processes take center stage. Plus, try your luck at our raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes! Join us for an evening of connection and celebration.4:00 - 4:30 pm enjoy the art exhibit, raffle, food and drink 4:30 pm welcome, introduction to chronic pain and an artist panel conversation5:00 pm video compilation of the artists speaking about their work5:30 - 7:00 pm enjoy the art exhibit, raffle, food and drink People of all ages are welcome to attend. The event will be hosted at Pause Meditation Studio on the third floor of the building. The event is fully ADA accessible. Want to learn more about sponsorship?
Disabled Ecologies by Sunaura Taylor (ucpress.edu)
Scholarship is a powerful tool for changing how people think, plan, and govern. By giving voice to bright minds and bold ideas, we seek to foster understanding and drive progressive change.
Disabled Ecologies (sunaurataylor.net)
A powerful analysis and call to action that reveals disability as one of the defining features of environmental devastation and resistance.
National Endowment for the Arts Disability Arts Listening Session (arts.gov)
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is seeking input on what artists and other cultural workers with disabilities need to create, learn, and perform in a safe, healthy, and productive environment.
Perel (hebbel-am-ufer.de)
What happens when grief turns from a temporary feeling into a permanent state? In “Natural Acts”, queer, disabled, interdisciplinary artist Perel and freelance artist and sign language choreographer Rita Mazza explore non-binary and non-linear forms of mourning, searching for strategies to make a sensual experience out of absence and loss. Using visual and narrative elements, the performance explores the effects of violence across generations, drawing the audience into the subject both emotionally and intellectually. In a space that appears to be upside down and turning in on itself, the events on stage are revealed and concealed in equal measure by massive fabric constructions. The artists' choreography oscillates between movement and gesture, action and dance, text and language. Alternative seating landscapes create the conditions for the interplay of closeness and distance, challenge and sympathy between the audience and the performers. The piece shows how trauma and loss influence the brain and consequently our everyday actions by keeping the “never past” past alive. “Natural Acts” questions the prevailing culture of remembrance by employing physical experiences and offering the opportunity to confront the dark sides of oneself and of society.
Smoke & Mirrors (zimmerli.rutgers.edu)
Smoke & Mirrors is a major special exhibition focused on issues of accessibility and featuring the work of artists with disabilities, guest curated by Dr. Amanda Cachia, a distinguished scholar, curator, and disability arts activist.
A System of Inqeuity: Fashion for Every Body (youtube.com)
Fashion model, artist, and media personality Aaron Rose Philip passionately addresses the systemic inequities in the fashion industry, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by disabled and Black transfeminine talent while advocating for a more inclusive and empowering future. Aaron Rose Philip refuses to be defined. Hailing from The Bronx by the way of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, Aaron Rose was discovered through her social media where she took notice of the lack of representation of her communities. An outspoken advocate for trans women of color and the disabled community, the trailblazer has accomplished covering British Vogue's May 2023 Issue, appearing in spreads for Vogue, W magazine, Interview, Paper magazine, i-D, Allure, Teen Vogue, and Dazed, and gracing billboards worldwide as the face of Moschino. She has since been embraced by industry titans like Jeremy Scott, Katie Grand, Tyler Mitchell, Ethan James Green, and Edward Enninful. Aaron Rose is driven by the lack of disability and trans woman of color representation in the media, specifically in the fashion and beauty realms, so these accomplishments are something that's very personal to her. She has, also, starred in Miley Cyrus' "Mother's Daughter" music video, made an appearance on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, posed for Dove's United We Stand campaign in support of the 20th Anniversary of Stonewall Uprising — and was featured in extensive profiles for The New York Times and Vogue, the latter alongside her friend, Chella Man, discussing the stark absence of disabled representation. These bookings prove just how multi-faceted Aaron Rose really is. Aaron Rose has, quite simply, become an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Media Representation of Persons with Disabilities (American Sign Language) I Master Class Video 1 (youtube.com)
How we talk about disability matters because the media has a major impact on public perception and is important in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in society.
Imagining What Disability Actually Is (arts.gov)
A look at DisArt Festival, the largest disability art festival in U.S. history, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Twin Cities PBS Receives 17 Upper Midwest Emmy Nominations (tpt.org)
Twin Cities PBS was honored today with 17 Upper Midwest Emmy nominations. This is all made possible thanks to the support of our members and viewers. Take a look at the list of nominations and check back in November for the winners.
Ecologies of Access (concordia.ca)
Disability and Arts in the Anthropocene
Soft Magic: Rituals For Healing (carescapes.substack.com)
An Excerpt from My Book "Touch Me, I'm Sick"
The Arts Commission and Ability Center Partner For Accessibility Audit (toledocitypaper.com)
Two Toledo organizations partner for an exciting endeavor as part of Toledo’s goal to make Toledo the most disability-friendly city in the nation.
Editorial: State's disability centers should abide by Public Records Act (latimes.com)
Regional Centers for Californians with disabilities provide services on the state's behalf, using taxpayer money, and should obey the same disclosure requirements as state agencies.
The Disability Innovation Fund (gracedowwrites.com)
The Rehabilitation Services Administration of the United States Department of Education announced this week that $251 million will be awarded to 27 businesses around the country. The money is being awarded as part of the Disability Innovation Fund program.
Join the Fight to Abolish Medical Debt (debtcollective.org)
It’s no secret that the U.S. healthcare system is a disaster. Corporate healthcare executives are raking in record profits while the rest of us have to pinch pennies just to see a doctor when we’re sick. Medical debt doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it’s a symptom of a healthcare system that incentivizes the pursuit of profit at the expense of patients, workers, and communities.
Open Letter to Samsung (spacetostutter.org)
We, a collective of stuttering self-advocacy and activist organizations, are calling for action from Samsung regarding their new technology, the Impulse watch app. Impulse is marketed as an “invisible assistant” that uses AI and tactile rhythmic impulses delivered at the wrist to promote fluent sounding speech, as well as “confidence” and “autonomy” among users who stutter. This technology and its marketing are deeply problematic and perpetuate, rather than improve, issues faced by people who stutter. Though Samsung claims to create products “built around a human-centered philosophy that recognizes diversity and embraces our differences,” Impulse actively undermines their own ideals. Society’s punishments for stuttering teach people who stutter that they are only valued if they speak without stuttering and this technology reinforces this harmful view.
Is Disability the Antidote to the DEI Demise? (linkedin.com)
Over the course of the last several years, we have seen a complete assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to the point where colleges and universities are slashing DEI funding to Supreme Court Rulings on Affirmative Action and a slew of Congressional hearings. Yet, despite the current political environment and the pressures of culture wars DEI remains a relevant topic within the corporate ecosystem, and perhaps demise may be too strong a word, but certainly an organizational hesitancy may be a more accurate terminology. The fact remains that the need for DEI hasn’t gone anywhere, and perhaps it is time to once again rethink innovative ways to package DEI that not only highlight its importance, but embraces the value of difference as a net positive underlying what anthropologist Margaret Mead said when she wrote, “If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.”
Accessibility Guidelines (AG) Working Group update (youtube.com)
Since TPAC 2023, the group has published the exploratory guidance list, and the WCAG 2 Task Force has sped up updates to the WCAG 2 documentation. In this video, the co-chairs present WCAG 3 goals, including updating guidelines for new technologies, addressing user needs, providing guidance, defining clear testing, supporting flexible conformance, and emphasizing research.
Heydon Pickering / The Folly of Chasing Demographics #id24 2024 (youtube.com)
People with disabilities are different. Not only different from those without disabilities but different from other people with disabilities and even different from other people with the same disabilities. Different experiences, different circumstances, different adaptations, different preferences, different everything. So why do we design for 'screen reader users' or 'keyboard users', for example, like they're all the same person? Are there less clumsy (and insulting!) ways to approach inclusion?
Why venues need to be accessible (abc.net.au)
For Australians living with disability, a simple night out is complicated.
Monopoly Accessibility Spotlight (news.ubisoft.com)
Learn more about how the development team made this the most accessible digital Monopoly game to date.
Introduction to XR Accessibility (tetralogical.com)
Extended Reality (XR) provides immersive experiences through detailed visual, audio, and multi-media content. When using these different types of content, we need to consider how we can communicate the same information to people with disabilities in order to make XR accessible to everyone.
Inclusive Comedy Show Expands Options For Adults With Autism (disabilityscoop.com)
Movie theaters, museums and other public spaces have taken steps to accommodate neurodivergent people. Now, a stand-up show at the famed Laugh Factory is demonstrating that comedy can be inclusive too.
Adam Pearson and Crystal Marshall are changing the faces of acting (ctpublic.org)
On this episode of Audacious, meet actors Adam Pearson and Crystal Marshall, who have visible facial differences. They are changing the face of leading roles in entertainment.
The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Northern California (disability-visibility-newsletter.ghost.io)
I love nature. Not the bugs but I love being in a forest if there are paved trails. All people should have access to the outdoors and I am happy to offer 2 paperback copies of Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California: Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot available now by Syren Nagakyrie. I first learned of Syren by following Disabled Hikers, a nonprofit building disability community and justice in the outdoors, on Instagram. Details below.
Ivaylo Dodev, who is deaf in one ear, said a gate agent became "pugilistic" after he said he couldn't hear what they had said to him before boarding.
Ivaylo Dodev, who is deaf in one ear, said a gate agent became "pugilistic" after he said he couldn't hear what they had said to him before boarding.
Mum 'belittled' after luggage blocks wheelchair space (bbc.com)
Chantal said she was disgusted by the man's response on the "packed train".
I’m not a 3- or 4-letter code (accessiblelink.substack.com)
PRM, VIP, WCHC
Some things I have (un)learned about disability and friendship (lucywebster.substack.com)
Hello, Long term readers of this newsletter will know that my very favourite things in life are, in no particular order: books, cheese, the social model of disability and my mates.
Britsh Athletics Squad Ring The Bell In Celebration (criplife.co.uk)
As part of our ParalympicsGB highlights series, our editor, Emma Purcell, heads around the track and field, showcasing the best of the sport from the British athletics squad in the Stade de France.
Why you need a password manager now (abilitynet.org.uk)
Stay safer online and discover the power and convenience of using a password manager.
Learning Disability Nursing in partnership with NHS England (dancesyndrome.co.uk)
Working with NHS England, DanceSyndrome has launched a film series encouraging people to consider a career in Learning Disability Nursing.
Turning my disability into a positive (euansguide.com)
A blog post written for disabled access charity Euan's Guide on a personal experience of turning MS / disability into a positive.
CoSN Report Offers Road Map for Schools to Make AI Accessible (educatingalllearners.org)
This article was written and Published by Government Technology— September 17, 2024 The Consortium for School Networking and the nonprofit CAST this week released a report on practical steps schools and tech developers can take to ensure new AI tools are accessible to all students.
Signbank (auslan.org.au)
Auslan Signbank is a language resources site for Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Auslan is the language of the deaf community in Australia.
FTC Sues Pharmacy Middlemen For Allegedly Inflating Insulin Prices (forbes.com)
Months earlier, the agency released a report alleging the companies drove up the costs of some medications, including insulin.
Engineering Students Participate in EPICS in IEEE Competition to Develop Innovative Accessibility Solutions for Disabled Individuals (assistivetechnologyblog.com)
Discover innovative accessibility projects from the 2023 EPICS in IEEE Access and Abilities Competition that can change lives for people with disabilities.
Early intervention reduces long-term disability in children, study finds (disabilityinsider.com)
New research presented at ECTRIMS 2024 reveals that initiating monoclonal antibody therapy during childhood, rather than delaying treatment until early adulthood, significantly reduces long-term disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
A Glittering Medal Haul For British Cycling (criplife.co.uk)
As part of our ParalympicsGB highlights series, our editor, Emma Purcell, cruises her way around ParalympicsGB’s cycling team’s triumphs, mishaps and unforgettable moments in the velodrome and on the road.
Romeo and Juliet review – diversity doubles the power of Shakespeare’s tragedy (theguardian.com)
A cast of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent actors throw new light on the star-crossed lovers in Graeae’s uneven yet often thrilling show
Dear Hearing People (facebook.com)
The Deaf community tells all hearing people what’s truly on their minds— and it’s a big deal.
LikeRightNow Films (likerightnowfilms.com)
LikeRightNow Films leverages the power of documentary film to promote greater acceptance and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in schools and communities through internationally distributed documentary films, curriculum, training, public awareness, and worldwide outreach.
Goodbadthings (goodbadthings.com)
Danny, a young man with muscular dystrophy who is disillusioned by failed relationships, steps out of his comfort zone and into the world of online dating. An unexpected match with Madi, an enigmatic photographer, challenges him to be vulnerable and sparks a profound journey of self-acceptance, discovering the extraordinary beauty of his unique body.
Traveling with a disability: We put Air Canada, Uber, Lyft and others to the test (Marketplace) (youtube.com)
CBC’s Marketplace set out to uncover barriers that people with disabilities face while travelling on airplanes, public transit, rideshares and cabs across Canada. With hidden cameras rolling, we documented dangers and accessibility challenges — and then asked companies and government officials for answers.
Who is a professional? (bethmoulam.com)
Who is a professional in the field of AAC? How do we balance professional experience with expert AAC users with lived experience?
Breakfast clubs must be for all children in England, say disability charities (theguardian.com)
Campaigners want Labour’s key education policy to provide food for primary aged pupils rather than just in schools
Thanks to Donald Trump, Apple’s new AirPods will make America hear again (theguardian.com)
The tech firm’s federal approval to turn its earbuds into hearing aids is one in the eye for the monopolistic US healthcare agency
The Ride Ahead Education Kit (rideaheadfilm.com)
Samuel Habib is a typical 21-year-old, itching to move out, start a career, and find love. But no one tells you how to be an adult, let alone an adult with a disability. Can a community of disability activists help him follow his dreams?
A Brief But Spectacular take on memory loss and healthy aging (youtube.com)
DY Suharya is the founder of Alzheimer's Indonesia and the regional director of Alzheimer's Disease International for the Asia Pacific region. When her mother was diagnosed with dementia, Suharya became her caregiver. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on memory loss and healthy aging.
'A powerful new tool': A disabled advocate on Apple's FDA-approved hearing aids (mashable.com)
Can the new feature actually change lives?
Four U.S. Paralympians disciplined for online comments about teammate (washingtonpost.com)
Decorated swimmer Jessica Long was among those barred from the Closing Ceremonies in Paris after questioning the disabilities of fellow athlete.
We need new leadership (disabilitydebrief.org)
The international disability movement needs transparency and accountability
How ‘doing differently’ instead of ‘doing more’ defined the journey of an inclusive gathering (reframingdisability.substack.com)
Tania G on making events inclusive; recruiting for inclusion; reporters’ toolkit on mpox and elections, an exhibition by deaf artists, and plenty of media recommendations
Jenny Sealey to receive Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award at the UK Theatre Awards 2024 sponsored by Encore (ablemagazine.co.uk)
It has been announced that Jenny Sealey OBE, Artistic Director of Graeae, is the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre Award. She will be honoured at the UK Theatre Awards ceremony, taking place on Sunday 20 October at 8 Northumberland Avenue, sponsored by Encore. The UK Theatre Awards celebrate the very best of theatre across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Awards are given for creative excellence and outstanding work both on and off stage, including the coveted UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award.
VIDEO: Watch a Deaf youngster showcasing her dancing talent (thedeafdiary.com)
Deaf and Blind learners from 12 schools from different provinces in the country joined a virtual conversation with Judge Brian Mashile from the Mpumalanga High Court Division at an event dubbed, “If He Can do It, I can do It.”
‘Eye-opening’ report calls for action on ‘inconsistent and unpredictable’ bus services for disabled passengers (disabilitynewsservice.com)
An “eye-opening” report has called for action to address the “inconsistent, unpredictable and sometimes inaccessible services” that disabled bus passengers have to put up with.
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2024 (respectability.org)
We hope NDEAM 2024 will serve as a reminder that disabled people belong in the workforce, just like they belong in all aspects of community.
Cost of Living – Melbourne Theatre Company (carlyfindlay.com.au)
I was lucky to be invited to the premiere of Cost of Living, a Melbourne Theatre Company production, last night. I went with my friend and colleague Amelia.
Diversability Amplified Podcast: Navigating Neurodiversity and Disability in the Music Industry with Arthur Gwynne, RAMPD [S2:E8] (mydiversability.com)
In this episode, Tiffany Yu speaks with Arthur Gwynne, a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and accessibility in the music industry. Arthur shares his personal journey navigating disability, and discusses the challenges of balancing self-care with professional responsibilities. Arthur shares RAMPD’s mission to promote inclusion and support for disabled music professionals, along with the tools and strategies that have helped him succeed. Join us as we dive into his experiences working with artist Lachi, the growth of RAMPD, and the evolving conversation around accessibility and identity in professional spaces.
Ministers meet to discuss implementation of Canada Disability Benefit (disabilityinsider.com)
The Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services Forum met virtually on September 12, 2024, to discuss the federal government’s implementation of its Canada Disability Benefit, which is intended to support the financial security of current and future generations of working-age Canadians with disabilities.
New framework launched for Neurodiversity and Mental Health (disabilityinsider.com)
A groundbreaking article published in the leading psychiatry journal World Psychiatry challenges the traditional approach to diagnosing neurodivergent conditions (also known as “neurodevelopmental disorders” in the medical literature), such as autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
ANATOMIC STUDIOS captures the spirit of the Paralympics (theactiveamputee.org)
Earlier this year, during the OT World in Leipzig/Germany, I had the pleasure to meet up with all members of ANATOMIC STUDIOS’ team. The small company from Malmö in Sweden’s south is famous for its stunning prosthetic covers. True to their motto ‘Fashion for Everybody and Every Body’, the ANATOMIC STUDIOS booth at the Leipzig trade fair was a real crowd puller, showcasing their latest collection of creative designs, offering trendy merch - and great chats over coffee. As I recently spotted three new designs on the company’s Instagram feed, designs especially made for this year’s Paralympic Games, I thought it was time to reach out to Emelie, one of the founders of ANATOMIC STUDIOS, again and catch up on the developments of the last couple of months and their plans for the near future. And here is what she had to say.
Jennifer French is the Neilsen Foundation’s 2024 $1 Million Visionary Prize Winner (newmobility.com)
It’s that time of year again. The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation has announced the latest winner of its Visionary Prize, an unrestricted $1 million award that’s given annually to community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of people with spinal cord injuries. The 2024 Prize goes to Jennifer French.
Entries open for Katherine Schneider Journalism Award and Gary Corcoran Student Prize for Excellence in Disability Reporting (cronkite.asu.edu)
The National Center on Disability and Journalism (NCDJ) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Katherine Schneider Journalism Award and the Gary Corcoran Student Prize for Excellence in Reporting on Disability.
Celebrating Emerson Romero Doodle (doodles.google)
Learn more about the creation of Celebrating Emerson Romero Doodle and discover the story behind the unique artwork.
Celebrating Deaf Culture: Keith's Journey of Art, Advocacy, and Independence (globenewswire.com)
In recognition of International Week of Deaf People.
Boston Center for Independent Living marks 50 years of helping disabled people live on their own (wgbh.org)
BCIL's work is "groundbreaking" advocates say, on transportation, housing and the landmark Personal Care Attendant program.
An Explanation for Cross-Neurotype Communication Snafus: Relevance Theory (thinkingautismguide.com)
Relevance theory explains why things that may be obvious for an autistic person may not be obvious to a non-autistic person—and vice versa.
Today is the first Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day (19thnews.org)
Disabled women make 50 cents for every dollar a non-disabled man makes. The gap is even steeper for Black, Latina and Indigenous disabled women.
Verdant Embrace / Melissa Meier & Kam Redlawsk (kamredlawsk.com)
In ‘Verdant Embrace’ Melissa aims to celebrate the intersection of art, nature, and the human experience while exhibiting how beauty and strength can thrive in unexpected forms.
Disability Exclusion in Politics (youtube.com)
My guest today is Raul Krauthausen. He lives in Berlin, Germany, and is a well-known activist and author who advocates for the inclusion of disabled people, basing his work on his own life and experience because Raul was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta and is therefore using a wheelchair. Raul is a published author of several books about inclusion, disability, and activism, with his latest book being “Whoever wants inclusion, finds a way. Whoever doesn’t want it, will find excuses”.
How to support special education through technology and collaboration (educatingalllearners.org)
District technology departments are vital in ensuring special education students have the tools and infrastructure to succeed. In today’s digital age, the right technological support can transform the learning experience for students in special education, helping them overcome barriers and fully engage with the curriculum.
Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) (knowbility.org)
The Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) is a pioneering web accessibility awareness program. Started by Knowbility in 1998 as a local event in Austin, Texas, the rally has evolved into an innovative, unique teaching and learning experience that puts accessibility and digital inclusion front and center – where it belongs.
Do You Need a Diagnosis to Be Disabled? (rollingwithit.substack.com)
Or: A Deeper Dive Into Understanding Disability
When Disabled Adults Care for Disabled Youth, Everyone Prospers (rootedinrights.org)
At my community’s youth-facing arts organization, there are no normal days. There are days when poetry prompts turn to discussions of love and worth, days when youth are too exhausted to do anything but curl up in a corner with a Switch, days when they swap hyperfixations instead of paint brushes. And there are days when I, and the other disabled adults running these programs, wake up the morning of a workshop with pain, fatigue, illness, mania, or any other in a long list of symptoms that sends the day’s plan out the window. But we cover for each other. We know what it’s like. And, importantly, we know that people’s well-being is more important than checking off items on a program agenda.
Good Bad Things - Good Bad Things: Worldwide Virtual Premiere (veeps.com)
RogerEbert.com: "Good Bad Things is an intimate, small story about the gigantic issue that challenges and terrifies us all: the collision between the desperate need to be seen and loved and the fear that what people might see will repel rather than attract them." 3.5/4 stars.
To Uber, With Love (nytimes.com)
After my autistic son was barred from his favorite app, I sprang into action.
Mattel Unveils Blind Barbie (nytimes.com)
A second new doll, a Black Barbie with Down syndrome, is part of the toymaker’s effort to be more inclusive.
Paris Paralympics 2024: day nine – in pictures (theguardian.com)
Table tennis, high jump, and cycling are some of the sports on show as we look at some of the best images from day nine in Paris
The Quiet Collaboration Between Paralympic Athletes and Their Assistants (nytimes.com)
For competition partners who share the mutual goal of winning medals, eye contact or a simple touch can be all the communication that’s needed.
BADA (knowbility.org)
This programs page describes the Be A Digital Ally training series
9 Stunning Swimsuit Photos You Won't See In Magazines (refinery29.com)
Women who have disabilities can be anything from Broadway performers to leading scientists — and they sure as hell can enjoy beaches and pools.
The Unexpected Shape Writing Academy Awards Fifteen Fellowships to Writers with Limitations in Need (esmewwang.substack.com)
exciting news and a small ask
How the first astronaut with a disability is preparing to travel into space (uk.news.yahoo.com)
In this episode, we will explore how space exploration affects the human body and how scientific research is fundamental to advancing medicine here on Earth.
Disability Representation In Top Movies Remains 'Stubbornly' Low (disabilityscoop.com)
Despite efforts to promote inclusion in Hollywood, a new report finds that representation of people with disabilities on screen has changed little since 2015.
What a Blind Photographer Saw at the Paralympics (nytimes.com)
The athletes’ stories help her understand her own.
Town Band (video.wmht.org)
Join our host Jermaine Wells to watch "Town Band" by Alice Elliott on TVFilm.
Let's Talk Paralympics (welcomechangeproductions.cmail20.com)
Two men run next to each other on the same track lane, holding onto the same short tether. On the left is a man with light-brown skin wearing a yellow tank-top that says "Brasil." On the right is a man with brown skin and a beard wearing a grey tank-top that says "Guide."
Natural Bridge State Park Introduces RightHear Accessibility System for Visually Impaired Visitors (assistivetechnologyblog.com)
Discover how Virginia's Natural Bridge State Park leads the way in accessibility with RightHear, enhancing the experience for visually impaired visitors.
Contagious Purpose: How Vulnerability & Diversity Challenge Ableism (anicazeyen.blog)
I explore how embracing vulnerability can act as a catalyst for positive change. By bringing individual purpose to the forefront, we can motivate others to embrace diversity and drive meaningful ch…
Pride Mobility’s Go Go Carbon Is as Lightweight and Compact as Travel Scooters Come (newmobility.com)
This travel scooter weighs 39 pounds and folds for easy transport.
Accelerating Children and Youth with Disabilities’ Participation, Advocacy and Influence in the Commonwealth (includemetoo.org.uk)
The Year of Youth 2023 / 2024 was launched to mark fifty years of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. During this time youth with disabilities from across the Commonwealth have led on initiatives strengthening the rights, inclusion, advocacy, leadership and capacity of children and youth with disabilities. The Commonwealth recognises the pivotal role children and youth with disabilities in shaping for a more inclusive future.
There’s nothing special about me: curing my fear of flying (blindnewworld.org)
Sydney May - coach, speaker, comedian and musician - had a "lightbulb moment" that helped her overcome a fear of flying
Launch of the Public Facing Pathway to Support Individuals with Sight Loss (pocklington.org.uk)
The Public Facing Pathway aims to provide comprehensive support and information at each stage of a person’s sight loss journey, ensuring that no one feels isolated or unsupported.
Fight Club, Parent Edition (buttondown.com)
When you are expecting a child, your mind fills with visions of a picture-perfect future. You think about first words, school pictures, friendships, proms, and the milestones of independence like getting their first driver’s license, job, or going to college. But sometimes, fate throws you a curveball. Many people don’t even get the chance to count those tiny fingers and toes before the baby is rushed off to the ICU. Or possibly you are one of the 96 % who take home what you think is a healthy child, and then an illness, accident, or genetic condition suddenly teleports you into a different world. Welcome to raising a disabled child.
The 40-year-old’s who are in bed by 5pm (bbc.co.uk)
Why does the quality of life for some people with learning disabilities decline at 40?
Lost Voice Guy takes half an hour off his Great North Run time (chortle.co.uk)
Lost Voice Guy Lee Ridley has taken part in his second Great North Run – with his team pushing him around the half-marathon course half an hour quicker than last year.
1,700 km in Search of Humanity: Honey, Bunnies and Explosions (inkultur.org)
The representatives from our partner organisation Fight For Right embarked on a journey spanning nearly 1,700 km over three days, traversing nine regions, visiting four shelters, and engaging in dozens of meetings. The aim was to collaborate with local experts and assess firsthand the critical importance of accessibility in shelters serving people with disabilities.
Understanding Different Disabilities - Kids Included Together (kit.org)
Explore insights into various types of disabilities and practical tips on accommodating and supporting all children.