Fake sign language is spreading on TikTok. Deaf people are worried
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
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.
The first readings are already scheduled and I can't wait to finally get back into dialogue with you!
Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation
'A lack of toilets led me to choose surgery' (bbc.com)
Marni Smyth chose to have a suprapubic catheter fitted to help retain her independence.
Disabled Parenting - 'We've Got This' (ablemagazine.co.uk)
We’ve Got This’ is a new collection of essays from and interviews with disabled parents. Lucy Catchpole lives with fatigue and pain while her husband, James, is an above the knee amputee which causes a few complications, though nothing they can’t handle. Here they talk about what they learned from the book and about their own parenting style.
Active Hands' Trip to AOTA (activehands.com)
We had a great time demonstrating our products to professional and trainee Occupational Therapists at AOTA in Kansas City, US.
Return of the PIF (touretteshero.com)
I can’t believe it’s been two years since we launched our Practical Intervention Fund, which provides small items related to wellbeing and relaxation to deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people of all ages. We’ve run two rounds of the fund so far, with each receiving lots of interest.
Only 70% of Delaware polling places meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards: report (eu.delawareonline.com)
Many polling places do not have accessible parking, and poll workers are not always trained in voting accessibility features.
How ableism can make it hard to be visible as a disabled person (youtube.com)
Response to “Using my mobility aid takes so much courage. Just to comfortably navigate the world takes a lot of strength, both physically and mentally” on my most recent video where disabilities being represented in advertising was met with antagonism.
Scientists Just Discovered a Possible Cause of Long COVID (business2community.com)
Researchers at the University of Manchester think they know what causes long COVID, the first step in creating a cure for the disease.
Fake sign language is spreading on TikTok. Deaf people are worried. (washingtonpost.com)
Sign language has become trendy on TikTok, but many videos feature incorrect signs, sparking fears the trend will cause lasting damage to American Sign Language.
Florida lawmakers want to use radioactive material to pave roads (npr.org)
Phosphogypsum, a byproduct in the fertilizer industry, contains uranium and radium — and as the EPA notes, it also forms radon, "a cancer-causing, radioactive gas."
NDIA admits missing red flags in case of malnourished brothers found in house with dead father (theguardian.com)
Senior counsel assisting told royal commission one brother’s 12-month plan was worth $102,000, but only $361 was spent.
Rights on Flights: the new campaign seeking to make air travel more accessible (nationalgeographic.com)
A new campaign is seeking to improve air travel for passengers with disabilities by calling for change throughout the industry.
Why I Am More and More Ambivalent About My Autism Diagnosis (nytimes.com)
Mental health diagnoses shouldn’t be treated like a zodiac sign.
Candid: Build A More Disability-Inclusive Organization with RespectAbility (respectability.org)
In honor of RespectAbility’s tenth anniversary in 2023, we reflected on our accomplishments and our progress towards our mission.
Disability And Business: Doing It For Ourselves (huffingtonpost.co.uk)
Perhaps surprisingly, mania and anxiety can produce great work and spark creativity. Some of the greatest names through history, in terms of discovery and changing the world around us, had a mental health disorder or a learning disability or sometimes both - Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and Charles Darwin.
'Every day is a battle': Disabled child denied nursing support in school (newstalk.com)
A disabled six-year-old has been denied in school nursing support by the HSE and has to be looked after by her mother during school hours.
‘Just another baby for them.’ Parents, feds fight for kids stuck in Florida nursing homes (miamiherald.com)
At the Plantation Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Northwest Fifth Street, frail men and women with wheelchairs, walkers, and hearing aids live out their last years in an institutional setting. Nearby, but in a world of their own, medically fragile youngsters at the start of life’s journey spend day after day, year after year, confined to cribs.
Film festival explores stories of people with disabilities (abc7ny.com)
Reelabilities Film Festival showcases stories and talent of the disabled community.
2023 Call for Board Members! (openaccessfoundation.org)
The Open Access Foundation for Arts and Culture (OAFAC) is seeking new members for our Board of Directors who will bring dedication and vision into our organization. Send in your application by May 22, 2023.
‘Double disadvantage’ - calls for NDIS reform to improve focus on Indigenous people (nit.com.au)
The First Peoples Disability Network of Australia has called for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reforms to focus on better supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Watch: Films shine a light on how art can empower talented disabled artists (echolive.ie)
Films celebrating artists involved in the Crawford Supported Studio have been launched.
GDIF's Bradley Hemmings: Disability should be centre stage at outdoor festivals (thestage.co.uk)
This year, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival has become the first festival in the UK to be awarded platinum status for disability access by Attitude Is Everything. Artistic director Bradley Hemmings says inclusion must be a priority for festivals.
Foundation Giving for Disability: Priorities and Trends (disabilityphilanthropy.org)
"Foundation Giving for Disability: Priorities and Trends" offers a first-ever, detailed examination of how U.S. foundations focus their support for disability communities.
All of Our Futures Depend on Funding Disability (disabilityphilanthropy.org)
Philanthropy cannot continue to ignore disability rights and justice or relegate disabled people to the sidelines.
Focus on disability rights growing, but intersectional support lags (philanthropynewsdigest.org)
More than a billion people around the globe and 61 million people in the United States—one in four Americans—identify as having a disability. Many are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), women, LGBTQ, and/or poor. Yet, advocates and funders of disability rights and justice say that philanthropy is only now beginning to recognize disability as a key element of its commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion.
Unions Need to Show Solidarity With Disabled Colleagues (teenvogue.com)
People with disabilities can’t be an afterthought.
Healing Justice Lineages: Disrupting the Medical-Industrial Complex (nonprofitquarterly.org)
NPQ interviews Cara Page, co-founder of the Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective, and Erica Woodland, Founding Director of the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, about their new book Healing Justice Lineages, which chronicles the history and present of healing justice.
Healing Justice Lineages (northatlanticbooks.com)
A profound offering and call to action—collective stories, testimonials, and incantations for renewing political and spiritual liberation grounded in Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Queer and Trans healing justice lineages.
Nonfiction Media Makers with Disabilities Survey (documentary.org)
The purpose of this survey is to identify data points about mediamakers from the disability community: where makers are in their practice, what hurdles they experience, and how best to support their work. When we define someone with a disability, we mean physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, chronic health conditions, mental health, blindness, low vision, D/deaf, and/or neurodiverse.
In Defense of Autistic Trans Self-Determination (temperancequeertarot.com)
On April 13th, 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey put into effect an emergency order barring trans healthcare in his state. In 2023’s onslaught of trans-hating legislation, this is the first ban of gender affirming care for trans adults. This order is a perfect storm, a convergence of ant
Opinion: Deaf people like me deserve better than MrBeast’s ‘inspiration porn’ (independent.co.uk)
When watching MrBeast’s video, will the average viewer be more alert to the needs of deaf people, or will they instead be drawn to the ‘heroic’ Donaldson going out of his way to splash around some cash?
Teen brothers with disabilities found naked and locked in room, commission hears (theguardian.com)
Counsel assisting the commission to submit that the violence, abuse and neglect suffered by the brothers was preventable, inquiry told.
Disability Smart Awards 2023 (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
Proud of something your organisation has done to support disability inclusion? Enter Business Disability Forum’s Disability Smart Awards.
Inclusive Journeys: Improving the accessibility of public transport for people with sight loss (rnib.org.uk)
Blind and partially sighted people face a range of barriers when accessing transport and public spaces, as this report shows. We are calling for transport providers to make their services more accessible to enable people with sight loss to travel independently and live a fulfilled life.
TfL launches new priority seating to enhance accessibility on buses (intelligenttransport.com)
The Priority Seating Week campaign aims to raise awareness of priority seating across TfL's public transport network.
Macron vows €1.5 billion to improve access as disabled people protest decades of inaction (france24.com)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France is investing €1.5 billion to reinforce accessibility to public places for people with disabilities, a day after associations protested in Paris, angry about decades of unmet promises and showing how difficult it is for them to travel alone by public transport in Paris, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Problems with Personas for People with Disabilities and How to Fix Them (linkedin.com)
Personas are fictional representations of a target audience, designed to help designers and marketers understand their customers better. While personas can be effective tools for developing products and services, they can also reinforce stereotypes and limit our understanding of diverse individuals.
“Making a Fuss” About Disability Rights (theregreview.org)
Judy Heumann’s fight for disability rights in the 1970s spawned an enduring, cross-disability movement.
The Food Allergy Epidemic (youtube.com)
The search for answers to why food allergies, sensitivity and intolerance has reached epidemic proportions, and what's next. Do you have food reactions and not know it? Is the government protecting us? What can we do to stop this?
Child in Maine tests positive for measles, first case in state since 2019 (edition.cnn.com)
A child in Maine has tested positive for measles, officials said, marking the first case in the state since 2019.
Loneliness Is As Deadly As Smoking, Surgeon General Says (time.com)
A new federal advisory warns about the health risks of loneliness, but won't unlock federal funding or programming.
Your pollen allergies are overwhelming? This might be why (edition.cnn.com)
The pollen count has exploded in some parts of the country this year after warm winter weather pushed plants into growing mode earlier than normal.
Watch The Kids of Kōrero Lane | New Season (tvnz.co.nz)
A group of Kiwi kids - some deaf, some hearing - come together to learn about diversity and acceptance, playing together and using sign language to communicate. Made with the support of NZ On Air.
5 Reasons We Love Inclusive Teachers (inclusionevolution.com)
When we think back to our favorite teacher it’s often not what the person said or did that we remember, but how that person made us feel. The best teachers lift us up, show us our worth, and make space for us to truly belong.
Dealing with the uncertainty of disability (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Life is full of the unexpected for everyone but when you are disabled there’s always much more uncertainty when it comes to looking at your future. I’ve been disabled my entire life and will continue to be disabled for the rest of it and I’m totally fine with that, but it does mean that I never quite know what elements of life will be straightforward and what is going to take some effort to make work.
Are autistic maskers victims of their own success? (ablemagazine.co.uk)
It is not uncommon for people on the spectrum to be told that they don’t look autistic. This can leave the autistic person on the receiving end of such a comment feeling rather bemused and even insulted.
Seeking a Lover, Not a Nurse (nytimes.com)
Disability shouldn’t make someone undesirable or impractical as a romantic partner.
Disabled Writers Support WGA Strike Despite Potential Loss of $2M in Earnings Amid Work Stoppage, According to Report (hollywoodreporter.com)
Financial and career impacts of the strike aside, one disabled writer said they have "nothing to lose and everything to gain" as part of Inevitable Foundation's new Disabled Writers Strike Survey.
Vermont Allows Out-of-State Residents to Access MAID (cancertherapyadvisor.com)
Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill on May 2 removing a requirement that people seeking MAID in Vermont must be residents of the state.
'A Little Known Nervous System Disorder Caused My Long COVID Symptoms' (womenshealthmag.com)
"I started passing out for no reason."
Federal report finds extreme weather substantially and disproportionately impacts people with disabilities (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
The National Council on Disability recently released a report focused on the effects people with disabilities experience due to natural disasters and extreme weather.
Why you should be getting involved - Able Magazine (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Imagine a world where policies, procedures and even designs are co-written and co-designed with disabled people instead of for disabled people.
Why Sign Language Translation Poses a Puzzle for AI (slator.com)
New advances promise greater accessibility and inclusivenesss.
How to Achieve More Inclusive Website Design (techbullion.com)
If you want to engage a large number of visitors on your business website, it makes sense for usability to be at the forefront of your web design. However, not all web designers maintain an inclusive approach when designing a website.
Accessibility in travel: Customer shares perspective on traveling with autism (marketscreener.com)
The latest Delta Air Lines news covering business, health and safety, leadership, routes and waivers, Delta people, our values and more.
Check out this grab bag of great Global Accessibility Awareness Day goodies! (mn.gov)
Resources for GAAD campaigns and for learning.
Assistive Technology: What’s an “Alternative Input Device?” (boia.org)
An alternative input device replaces a keyboard or mouse, enabling a person with disabilities to use a computer. Here are a few common examples.
New to Being Blind: How Lenovo’s Accessibility Features Help Overcome Vision Loss (news.lenovo.com)
Hear from Brent Skinner, a software engineer who recently lost his vision and was helped by Lenovo's accessibility features to overcome his loss.
Meet Pavi, Healthtech Researcher Passionate About Accessibility (womenofinfluence.ca)
She started a voice-based biomarker project for early Parkinson’s diagnosis.
How accessible is the new Parliament complex for the disabled? (scroll.in)
Parliament’s infrastructure and procedures have superficially accommodated disability-friendly measures. Not much has changed in the new building, it seems.
Canada's first accessibility commissioner facing investigation of claims that he mistreated staff (cbc.ca)
A year after the federal government appointed Canada's first accessibility commissioner, the government has now ordered an external investigation of claims that he mistreated staff, CBC News has learned.
Greece pledges to make over 200 beaches more accessible. Here's how. (eu.usatoday.com)
Greece has made a commitment to becoming a more inclusive travel destination, and the beaches have gone under a big project.
Meet the Photographer Highlighting Live Music Accessibility by Taking Portraits of Artists on Stairs (vice.com)
“That's what this project is all about – to highlight that everyone, everyone deserves to be able to access and enjoy live music, barrier-free.”
Click here: Twitter alt text meme that isn't funny for blind people (bbc.com)
Some brands have leapt on a new trend - but visually impaired people say they aren't in on the joke.
Specsavers hits out at ALT image trend for misusing accessibility features (mirror.co.uk)
Twitter's new joke picture trend has riled up eyecare brand Specsavers as it misuses accessibility feature ALT descriptions - which some users have called ableist.
What is alt text? Twitter meme criticised for misusing accessibility feature (standard.co.uk)
The Twitter meme sees people using the alt text feature to make jokes.
JAM The Label: inclusion and accessibility in retail (powerretail.com.au)
We spoke to adaptive clothing brand JAM The Label about their new capsule collection and accessibility in retail.
Marsham Court on unlocking the value of the 'purple pound' (boutiquehotelier.com)
Marsham Court Hotel, a boutique family-owned operation in Bournemouth, has increased its revenue by providing accessible features for its guests.
“We are not alone”: Disabled people in Sudan's conflict (disabilitydebrief.org)
Mobility in crisis, and the systems of love that hold things together.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival aims to democratise culture as accessibility pioneer (bbc.com)
It has adapted its venue and changed its signs to make it more welcoming to those with disabilities.
Cardiff: Disabled people's 20-year railway station access fight (bbc.com)
Disabled people have been struggling to use one of Wales' busiest railway stations for more than 20 years.
Neelam Bookstore & Cultural Space: Democratic designs to assemble accessibility (newindianexpress.com)
Architect Iraianbu Murugavel discusses the behind-the-scenes of Neelam Bookstore, the need for accessible spaces, and breaking the idea that rich architecture belongs to elite groups.
Mickey's Toontown Designed to be Inclusive and Accessible to 'Every Single Guest' at Disneyland Resort (wdwnt.com)
Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland Resort is designed to be wheelchair accessible and reduce anxiety in children who are sensitive to sensory stimulation.
Biden administration warns consumers to avoid medical credit cards (npr.org)
Americans paid an estimated $1 billion in interest on medical debt in just three years, a federal agency finds. This includes use of credit cards often pitched in doctors' and dentists' offices.
Denver dance theater installs chair lift after councilman who uses wheelchair was unable to access stage (denver7.com)
A dance theater in Denver has installed a chair lift to access the stage after a Denver city councilman, who uses a wheelchair, was unable to access the stage ahead of a debate in February.
Increasing entertainment accessibility for the hard-of-hearing community (rapidgrowthmedia.com)
Northview High School Senior Evan Arnold currently studies American Sign Language and is asking big questions: "Why is it necessary to find an alternate source in order to provide equal access during a performance that is intended for everyone?
Surgeon general declares loneliness epidemic, saying it poses risks as deadly as smoking (cbsnews.com)
Dr. Vivek Murthy says it poses risks as deadly as smoking a dozen cigarettes a day, and the crisis got much worse as COVID spread.
America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it (npr.org)
Lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.
'They're everywhere': Why touchscreens are causing huge accessibility problems for blind people (9news.com.au)
"I went in to buy my coffee and suddenly there was this screen and I had no cash," Mattiazzo, who is the CEO of Women with Disabilities Victoria, said.
Bridging another digital divide: Accessibility for blind and low-vision consumers (mckinsey.com)
Companies have an opportunity to build lasting relationships with consumers who are blind or low vision. Doing so requires a proactive, inclusive approach to digital.
The Bionic Eye That Could Restore Vision (and Put Humans in the Matrix) (cnet.com)
If it works, we might even be able to manipulate our own reality.
Key Facts About Wheelchair Assistance at US Airports (reducedmobility.eu)
From wheelchair assistance to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) protections for airline passengers, there are a variety of options available to make travel easier for those with disabilities.
A political space for all: Towards greater inclusion of persons with disabilities (indianexpress.com)
Making political party offices and places of campaign accessible for persons with disabilities, ensuring accessible transport for public programmes and campaigns, mentorship and financial support programmes for disabled workers will encourage inclusion.
Four ways for students with disabilities to access university (campusmorningmail.com.au)
A procurement process that emphasises accessible technologies for learning is important, for example, tools and processes which allow electronic content and systems to be consumed.
Accessible food truck to become a reality thanks to UWGB philanthropy class (fox11online.com)
A fully accessible food truck nutrition program will be coming to rural parts of Brown County this summer, thanks to UW-Green Bay's philanthropy class.
F*ck the Stairs movement strives to increase accessibility awareness on campus (flathatnews.com)
Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, April 26, the Student Accessibility and Disability Alliance at the College of William and Mary organized an advocacy campaign titled “F*ck the Stairs.” The campaign challenged able-bodied students to spend two days using accessible means of travel to better understand the experience of mobility impaired individuals, promoting accessibility awareness on campus.
Digital Accessibility Is a Bigger Education Issue Than We Think. Here’s What We Can Do About It. (edsurge.com)
About a month ago, a colleague forwarded me a newsletter from the school she works with. It was a normal-looking school newsletter: a three-page PDF with information about upcoming events, decorated with colorful clip art of flowers. However, the subject line said: “How do I get them to stop doing this?” I knew exactly what she meant.
Ashton Applewhite: Let's end ageism (ted.com)
It's not the passage of time that makes it so hard to get older. It's ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves -- and each other. Ashton Applewhite urges us to dismantle the dread and mobilize against the last socially acceptable prejudice. "Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a disease to be cured," she says. "It is a natural, powerful, lifelong process that unites us all."
Disease experts warn White House of potential for omicron-like wave of illness (washingtonpost.com)
Experts reached a consensus that there’s a roughly 20 percent chance during the next two years of an outbreak rivaling the onslaught of illness from omicron.
Masks Work. Distorting Science to Dispute the Evidence Doesn't (scientificamerican.com)
New mask studies relying on a medical paradigm do not erase decades of engineering and occupational science that show they work.
I'm non verbal, but that won't stop me from speaking Māori (renews.co.nz)
“For me, te reo adds another dimension to being Māori. It enables one to feel a sense of belonging and connection to their culture and I want to be able to experience that privilege.”
This 21-Year-Old Entrepreneur With Autism Launched A Nail School To Train Neurodivergent Students (essence.com)
After successfully building a beauty bar, Aaliyah Thompson is paying it forward with her nail school that aims to provide inclusive training to other aspiring beauty entrepreneurs.
This mom has Down syndrome and raised a son: How she did it (today.com)
Lisa Newtop welcomed a baby boy named Nic in 1996. It took a village to raise him.
Breaking Barriers 2023: A Celebration of Disability Community (disabilityrightswa.ejoinme.org)
Disability Rights Washington, one of the state’s pioneering disability rights advocacy organizations, is hosting Breaking Barriers: A Celebration of Disability Community on Thursday June 1st from 6:00-8:30pm PST. The event is being held at the spectacular 415 Westlake venue in Seattle, centering the voices and talents of disabled artists!
The government says NDIS supports should be 'evidence-based' – but can they be? (theconversation.com)
How can the concept of ‘evidence-based practice’ be applied to individualised disability support?
How to Apply for a Home Accessibility Grant (bbntimes.com)
Are you considering making your home more accessible?
Sophie Morgan (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Sophie Morgan is one of the most recognisable disabled people in the UK. She’s well known for presenting documentaries about disability and of course, as one of ITV’s Loose Women team. She spoke with Able Magazine about the Body Stories campaign that aims to celebrate body diversity.
What Taking a 'Time Out' from OCD Anger Looks Like (themighty.com)
"Within 30 minutes or less I am back to my usual self wondering how and why I became so angry in the first place."
I Pledge Allegiance (touretteshero.com)
We’re back in London after the first week of touring Burnt Out In Biscuit Land. We came back through central London which is already heaving with flags for the coronation next week.
National Center on Disability and Journalism names new executive director (cronkite.asu.edu)
Pauline Arrillaga has been named executive director of the National Center on Disability and Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (youtube.com)
The film, which will incorporate documentary, archival and scripted elements, will recount Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words — the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canadian army base who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss, will unspool alongside his never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis, at 29, with Parkinson’s disease. Intimate and honest, and produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family, the film will chronicle Fox’s personal and professional triumphs and travails and will explore what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease. With a mix of adventure and romance, comedy and drama, watching the film will feel like … well, like a Michael J. Fox movie.
Three Reasons Congress Should Reject Medicaid Work Requirements (tcf.org)
On April 26, the House passed Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling bill, the “Limit, Save, and Grow Act.” If enacted, the bill would create new work reporting requirements, stripping Medicaid coverage from adults unable to document eighty hours of work or community service per month. This commentary outlines how work reporting requirements are unnecessary, harmful, and ultimately counter to the goals of the Medicaid program. First, it describes the reality of Medicaid beneficiaries’ working status. It then discusses how work reporting requirements would jeopardize coverage even for beneficiaries who meet the requirements. Finally, it highlights the fact that work reporting requirements are rooted in racist perceptions of low-income people, and are deeply ableist in nature, to boot.
NDIS cost scrutiny is intensifying again – the past shows this can harm health and wellbeing for people with disability (theconversation.com)
People with disability have a worrying sense of deja vu about the current NDIS cost concerns.
900,000 New Yorkers Lost at Least 3 Loved Ones to Covid (nytimes.com)
And nearly one in four New Yorkers lost at least one person close to them, according to a newly released survey. The toll was even higher among people of color.
‘Women Talking’ Star Shayla Brown Talks About Acting With A Disability & Working With Sarah Polley (youtube.com)
“Women Talking” has scored two Oscar nominations and is a leading example of what to do in the industry. Ontario-born actress Shayla Brown played Helena in the film and sat down with Narcity's Brooke Houghton to talk about her experience with the audition process as a person who is visually impaired and what it was like working with Canadian director and writer, Sarah Polley.
2023 Disability Research Mentorship Program for Black Graduate Students (c-q-l.org)
CQL created the Disability Research Mentorship Program for Black Graduate Students in recognition that academic/research job candidates are judged on their history of publications and presentations, yet, systemic racism impacts who gets funding and research opportunities in grad school.
Accessible Education For Disabled Creatives Is More Important Than Ever (forbes.com)
The creative industries must evolve past the obsolete recruitment practices that prioritize physical endurance over other essential skills for entry-level positions. It is time to revolutionize the way we think about “breaking into” in the industry.
3 Common Myths About Internet Users With Dyslexia (boia.org)
Learn how people with dyslexia access and navigate the internet — and find out what you need to do to ensure your site is fully accessible.
4 Ideas to Create Linguistic Accessibility at Museums (aam-us.org)
Though the word “accessibility” has often been equated with giving access to those with disabilities, it can also mean something broader. Accessibility means looking at everything we create through the lens of inclusivity and diversity and asking questions not just about access but equal access. Does the Deaf or Hard of Hearing community have access to everything you have to offer? Will those whose native language is not English feel welcome at your institution? What communities have you been, perhaps unknowingly, excluding?
How investing in staff training can make your business more accessible (pbctoday.co.uk)
There’s a growing awareness among employers that making premises accessible should also include staff training. In this article, About Access explores how training staff on the requirements of disabled colleagues and visitors makes your business more accessible.
Forbes EQ BrandVoice: Why Remote Access Is The New ‘Curb Cut’ For Modern Accessibility (forbes.com)
As society continues to return to in-person activities, it's important not to leave behind the gains made by virtual access. Instead, we should use them as a stepping stone—or more aptly, a curb cut—to create a more accessible world for everyone.
The Importance of Website Accessibility for All Types of Users (chartattack.com)
Have you ever visited a website and found it difficult or even impossible to use because of your disability? Unfortunately, this is a common experience for many people who face barriers when trying to access the internet. That’s why we’re here today to discuss an essential aspect of modern web design: website accessibility.
How to Build a Digital Accessibility-First Company Culture (blog.usablenet.com)
Introducing the our first article by Jeff Adams, Accessibility Operations Director. Learn how and why to make accessibility part of your company's DNA.
Website Accessibility Tools and AI–A Quick Guide (eyeonannapolis.net)
Currently, it seems that artificial intelligence is everywhere. From more people aiming to set up smart homes to the introduction of ChatGPT 4, it seems that AI will change the world.
How To Avoid ADA Lawsuits and Remediate If You Can't (applause.com)
It's always best to be compliant with digital accessibility laws, but what happens when you receive a demand letter stating that you are not?
What Accessibility Tools Do Websites Need For SEO? (chartattack.com)
In this article, some accessibility tools that websites need for SEO will be explored, so you can see where your website falls.
How does a blind person shop online for furniture? (blog.usablenet.com)
Keep reading to learn about my experience shopping for furniture on four different e-commerce websites as a blind person and the five ways e-commerce businesses can improve the shopping experience for their customers with disabilities.
SightCity – Die größte internationale Fachmesse für Blinden- und Sehbehinderten-Hilfsmittel (sightcity.net)
Die SightCity Frankfurt ist die größte internationale Fachmesse für Blinden- und Sehbehinderten-Hilfsmittel. Sie wird als hybride Messe in der Zeit vom 10. bist zum 12. Mai 2023: Live in Frankfurt im Kongresshaus Kap Europa, Osloer Straße 5, 60327 Frankfurt am Main und digital im Internet stattfinden. blista und DVBS präsentieren ihre Angebote am Gemeinschaftsstand L 1.01 im 1. Stock des „Kap Europa“.
Hybrid working and how to create accessibility for all (thehrdirector.com)
Over recent years, an increase in remote working has helped many companies explore what is possible in terms of providing flexibility while maintaining productivity. This provides opportunities for greater accessibility, benefiting groups such as parents, those with caring responsibilities and those with disabilities. But in a more hybrid world of work it is important to keep accessibility front of mind, with organisations constantly challenging themselves to do better.
Coaching Instructors, Presenters, and SMEs on Accessibility (td.org)
Working with SMEs, particularly in the realm of accessibility where learning is designed and delivered for an inclusive audience, may require some coaching.
Council Post: How To Contribute To An Inclusive Metaverse (forbes.com)
The lack of accessibility features in the virtual world can make it challenging for people with disabilities to participate fully.
Why website accessibility is so important (techcentral.co.za)
Promoted | Website accessibility is becoming increasingly important, because it ensures that everyone has equal access to online content. Need help getting it right?
ADA Compliance Slowly Makes Headway (planetizen.com)
Decades of advocacy are paying off, but it often takes legal action to force cities to make accessibility improvements mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act over thirty years ago.
What's Up WID: Celebrating Judy Heumann and Disability Rights Activism (wid.org)
International disability rights activist and WID’s former International Program Director, Bruce Curtis, reflects on his years in activism alongside Judy Heumann and Ed Roberts and the importance of disability rights activism today. ListenTranscriptsAmerican Sign Language
Always Discreet hits milestone in its journey to improving product accessibility with innovative NaviLens partnership (retailtimes.co.uk)
Always Discreet has unveiled new packaging containing innovative codes to improve product accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers.
Twitter shifts course, allowing governments to post automated weather alerts and transit updates 'for free' (edition.cnn.com)
Twitter said Tuesday it will permit public institutions such as transit agencies and the National Weather Service to post large volumes of automated tweets for free, provided that the accounts doing so are "verified gov or publicly owned services."
Sony Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Now Available on HearUSA's Hearing Shop eCommerce Website (yahoo.com)
Moving to make hearing care solutions accessible to more clients nationwide and across all levels of hearing loss, HearUSA announced today the addition of Sony Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids to its online Hearing Shop on the HearUSA website.
Guide to Digital Accessibility to Provide Strategies for Accessibility in Online Learning (prunderground.com)
About Quality Matters Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations.
5 Tips for Making Friends as a Disabled Adult (mydiversability.com)
Research shows that friendship and social connections have both physical and mental health benefits; people with close connections have a lower risk of chronic stress and high blood pressure. However, experiencing these benefits is harder for some groups than others. Building new friendships can be a challenge for anyone, but for people with disabilities, there is an added layer to navigating friendships and creating new ones.
JAWS oder die Marktberechtigung für teure Screenreader (merkst.de)
Während früher optionale Screenreader notwendig waren, damit blinde Anwender einen Computer bedienen konnten, sind diese heutzutage in den Betriebssystemen ein fester Bestandteil oder als spendenfinanzierte Projekte kostenlos für Jedermann verfügbar. Grund genug, der Kritik an den vergleichsweise hohen Kosten für Screenreader auf den Grund zu gehen. In meiner Berufspraxis kommt es gelegentlich vor, dass ich blinde Kunden bediene, das hat auch manchmal persönliche Vorteile. Denn so konnte ich aktuell den bekannten Screenreader JAWS in der aktuellen Version 18 Home testen und es auf einem neuen System mit schneller Hardware dem kostenlosen bzw. spendenfinanzierten NVDA gegenüberstellen. Vorausschicken muss ich allerdings, dass in meiner Berufspraxis JAWS nie Thema war. Ich arbeitete stets für Unternehmen, die gerade kein JAWS im Portfolio haben durften und auf andere Hersteller wie Dolphin oder GW-Micro setzten, JAWS war der „böse Konkurrent“ und dennoch bei der Masse beliebt.
Time for ‘root and branch’ review of Disability Confident, minister admits (disabilitynewsservice.com)
The minister for disabled people has pledged to carry out a “root and branch” review of the government’s Disability Confident employment scheme, following a decade of criticism from disabled campaigners.
Thousands of COVID tests recalled over bacteria risk, FDA warns (cbsnews.com)
500,000 "Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests" distributed to CVS and 16,000 distributed to Amazon should be thrown out.
'A Day With No Words' can be full of meaningful communication (npr.org)
NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks with author and activist Tiffany Hammond about her new children's book A Day With No Words. It details a day in the life of non-speaking autistic kids and their families.
Disneyland reopens Toontown, designed to be inclusive of 'every single guest' (cnbc.com)
The redesigned Toontown is entirely wheelchair accessible and is visually and auditorily approachable for kids who are easily overwhelmed.
Disability rights groups launch lawsuit to quash California’s assisted suicide law (bioedge.org)
Several groups representing people living with disability are suing in the US District Court for the Central District of California to have the state’s End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) be declared unlawful and unconstitutional.
Web Accessibility Laws Set To Enter New Era As DOJ Gears Up For Spring Rulemaking (forbes.com)
The Department of Justice launches a rulemaking procedure in May for technical standards for website accessibility in relation to the law. This represents an important moment in the history of web development as stakeholders look to identify short- and medium-term priorities.
Hearing Aids Are Changing. Their Users Are, Too. (nytimes.com)
As more young people risk hearing loss, over-the-counter hearing aids are providing new options, but also confusing choices.
Bill aims to improve air travel for passengers with disabilities (washingtonpost.com)
The MOBILE Act would track damaged wheelchairs and spur research on designing planes that allow passengers to stay in their wheelchairs when they fly.
We don’t care if our disability ambassadors are disabled, government admits (disabilitynewsservice.com)
The Cabinet Office has admitted that it does not ask its own disability ambassadors if they self-identify as disabled people, sparking serious concerns about the government’s commitment to equality.
'Patients are not hot potatoes': How the fight over dialysis coverage is putting kidney failure patients at risk (statnews.com)
Patients with kidney failure continue to worry about losing access to dialysis, following last year's Supreme Court ruling on insurance coverage for the lifesaving treatment.
Lack of late-night accessible transportation options has this man singing the blues (cbc.ca)
John Travers loves attending and promoting the shows of local artists who are part of London's music scene. The 48-year-old can be found at various concert venues around the city on weekends.
Risk of Stroke Surges 50% Worldwide – What Can Be Done About It? (scitechdaily.com)
Stroke incidence has risen 50% since 2005, with diet and lifestyle playing key roles. Adopting healthier habits can prevent 80% of strokes, emphasizing the importance of National Stroke Awareness Month.
Microsoft adds Excel and PowerPoint's Accessibility ribbon to Outlook for Windows (neowin.net)
Office Insiders that are on the Beta Channel version 2304 or above can check out the new Accessibility ribbon in Outlook on Windows that offers users a way to make your emails more accessible.
Actor Is First With Down Syndrome To Star In Disney Film (disabilityscoop.com)
An actor with Down syndrome is making history by appearing in a leading role alongside Jude Law and other big names in a new version of "Peter Pan" that Disney is releasing this week.
New accessible crosswalk tech debuts in downtown Houston (axios.com)
Houston Public Works installed new pedestrian signals around the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Advise Wise improves platform accessibility (financialreporter.co.uk)
The platform has made accessibility improvements for colour blind users.
Columnist - Ciara Lawrence (ablemagazine.co.uk)
As well as my day job at the learning disability charity, Mencap, presenting my Pink Sparkle Podcast and having some much-needed down time, I also find time to volunteer – at no less than six amazing charities.
The Complete Guide to Preschool Sorting Activities (simplyspecialed.com)
Velcro? Scissors? Laminating sheets? Card stock? Check! Sorting activities are essential in our special education classrooms.
Are men talking too much? (arementalkingtoomuch.com)
Check who's dominating the conversation
Deaf Mosaic exhibition in King’s Cross (kingscross.co.uk)
Deaf photographer Stephen Iliffe’s exhibition Deaf Mosaic features 54 intimate portraits of deaf and deafblind people from all walks of life, illustrating the rich mosaic of the deaf community, and the fact that, with the right support, deaf people can achieve anything.
NYC Schools Handcuff and Haul Away Kids in Emotional Crisis (propublica.org)
Despite a pledge to stop relying on police to deal with students who have mental health episodes, New York City schools have continued to call 911 on kids in distress thousands of times a year, an investigation by THE CITY and ProPublica found.
The Highs and Lows of Clubbing With a Physical Disability (vice.com)
People with disabilities want to have just as fun of a night out as everyone else, but 40 percent of venues in the UK don't even have handicap bathrooms.
Ai-Media Unveils AI-driven LEXI 3.0: The Future of Live Automatic Captioning (ai-media.tv)
Ai-Media is proud to announce the launch of LEXI 3.0, the world’s most accurate automatic captioning solution.
73 Questions with Judy Heumann (youtube.com)
Judith Heumann is an internationally recognized leader in the disability community and a lifelong civil rights advocate for disadvantaged people. She served as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State from 2010 – 2017 under the Obama Administration. Recently Judy has been building an on online presence under The Heumann Perspective through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. This new project is intended to broaden and spur discussions on the intersectionality of disability rights.
Losing the ability to walk and talk opened an architect's eyes (youtube.com)
Barriers, both physical and attitudinal, are everywhere but we are blind to most of them. Todd Hanson dedicated his career to applying experiential research to understand the needs of individuals with physical and emotional challenges. But as a competitive athlete, what did he really understand? Now living with a degenerative neuromuscular disease that leaves him unable to walk or speak, he’s discovered what people with disabilities encounter every day of their lives. Todd passionately shares his insights to better our communities and society as a whole. A Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, Todd practices architecture from beautiful Portsmouth, NH. Todd dedicated his career to gaining and applying experiential research to gain empathy and understanding of the needs of individuals with physical and emotional challenges. But living a life as a competitive distance runner, kayaker, skier, and backpacker, what did he really understand? Now living with a degenerative neuromuscular disease that leaves him unable to walk or speak, he passionately shares his insights and experiences to better our communities and society as a whole.
European Accessibility Summit 2023 (edf-feph.org)
Join us for the European Accessibility Summit 2023. Organised by the European Disability Forum and supported by Microsoft, the European Accessibility Summit is the unmissable yearly event gathering stakeholders from various sectors to raise awareness of the importance of accessible technology in work, education, and leisure for persons with disabilities in Europe.
Introducing the First Emerge Cohort! (mailchi.mp)
Arizona Deaf Pickleball League brings together deaf and hearing communities (cronkitenews.azpbs.org)
Francisco German and Shawn Benavente started the Arizona Deaf Pickleball League in 2021. Since then, the league has 400 members and is educating others about American Sign Language.
Covid was fourth leading cause of death in 2022, CDC data shows (washingtonpost.com)
Covid remained remarkably deadly, killing more than 500 people a day in 2022, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A Pair of Books Offer Guidance and Hope on How (Not) to Fit In (nytimes.com)
In their graphic memoirs, Abigail Balfe and Liz Montague capture what it’s like to grow up neurodivergent, and how creative outlets helped them find their way.
Voices of Disability Economic Justice (tcf.org)
Voices of Disability Economic Justice, a project of the The Century Foundation’s Disability Economic Justice Team, is a commentary series that shines a light on the economic disparities that disabled people experience. Central to this series is a focus on amplifying the perspectives of disabled people with multiple overlapping marginalized identities—particularly disabled people of color and LGBTQIA+ disabled people.
Suit Alleges Special Ed Teacher Was Fired For Raising Safety Concerns (disabilityscoop.com)
A former special education teacher has filed a federal lawsuit against the Portland Public Schools and former Superintendent Xavier Botana, saying he was terminated in retaliation for speaking out about classroom staffing shortages.
Jordan Neely Was Executed for Being Poor, Black, and Disabled (leftvoice.org)
Jordan Neely was strangled to death in the New York subway during a mental health crisis.
7 Challenging Daily Decisions When You Live With Chronic Illness (themighty.com)
"I have to put serious consideration into much of what I choose to do because it will have an immediate effect on Current Leslie, as well as risk having an impact on Future Leslie."
Disability News and Mental Health, ‘There weren't any ramps back in 1953’ (bbc.co.uk)
So many ways to access the Coronation, but not so many when it comes to planes.
Proposal for the European Commission Guidance on Independent Living - ENIL (enil.eu)
Independent Living can mean different things to different people. As defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), it means that disabled people can exercise choice and control over their lives, that they are able to take all decisions and exercise personal autonomy and self-determination. Independent Living means disabled people must have access to all areas of life.
The ‘Disability Price Tag’ for disabled employees (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
The extra costs of being disabled are many and diverse. Scope calls this the Disability Price Tag, and their latest findings are that disabled people’s households need an additional £975 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households.
A New Vanguard Of Disabled Talent Covers British Vogue’s May 2023 Issu (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
This quality that the industry – and here I include Vogue – must also lean into if it is to better serve the Disabled community.
Navigating Interviews When You Have a Disability (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
As employers have ramped up hiring following the pandemic, they’ve increasingly added workers with disabilities to their payroll.
Disability Advocate Taking the South by Storm with New Nonprofit (themighty.com)
"As the first regional disability organization in the United States, we are working to create both policy change and narrative change around disability in the South."
What a Stranger Said About My Child's G-Tube (themighty.com)
"I don’t need to get into a theoretical discussion on the existence of God, but I am pretty sure we can all agree that God did not give my son a G-tube, doctors did."
19 People With Disabilities Who Are Sick And Tired Of Having To Adapt To An Ableist World (buzzfeed.com)
"Stop expecting disabled and chronically ill people to adapt to an inaccessible world, then telling them they're inspirational when they're forced to."
Wheelchair user left to crawl off Ryanair plane in Sweden (bbc.com)
Irishman Adrian Keogh was told help would take an hour to arrive after his flight landed in Sweden.
“Activist Affordances” Hybrid Roundtable + Book Launch (accessinthemaking.ca)
The event will begin with short presentations by roundtable participants, followed by a conversation among the panelists with the author, moderated by members of the Access in the Making (AIM) Lab. Following a break, we will reconvene for a broader Q&A with all in attendance.
Bivalent COVID vaccine shows good Omicron protection while older version wanes (cidrap.umn.edu)
Two studies published today measure the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of COVID-19 vaccines against laboratory-confirmed Omicron variant and subvariants and symptomatic disease. Vaccines that target the newer variants performed well, but primary vaccines offered rapidly waning protection from SARS-CoV-2 infections in the post-Omicron era.
Resources — The Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative (aadinitiative.org)
The Asian Americans with Disabilities Resource Guide was created to combat ableism within the disabled Asian American community through first person testimonials, comprehensive peer-reviewed research, and briefs from AADI events.
OKO (facebook.com)
A new app for blind travelers! Most street corners lack pedestrian signals we can feel or hear. Imagine the liberation offered by an app using AI to read visual signals! OKO is free, too!
#STOPTHESHOCK (actionnetwork.org)
The #STOPTHESHOCK campaign is a movement aimed at ending the use of electric shock devices as a form of behavioral modification and treatment for individuals with disabilities.
Deaf Actress Shaylee Mansfield Shines in “The Company You Keep” (respectability.org)
“I’m grateful to have a platform that will give not only Deaf children, but all children to freely speak up, to fight for what they want, and to be fully themselves even if it is not ‘popular.'"
New SMA Treatment! Growing Shane's Muscles? (youtube.com)
Hannah’s Dumpster Dive is back! With a new SMA treatment on the horizon, we thought we would get into the nitty gritty of what SMA is and how the treatments work. Then, Shane tries to make Hannah uncomfortable with a game of Would You Rather?
Disabled entrepreneur launches revolutionary training programme for disabled entrepreneurs in partnership with the University of Leicester (ablemagazine.co.uk)
A disabled entrepreneur from Leicester has celebrated a key milestone in his mission to support aspiring disabled entrepreneurs with a collaborative launch of a first-of-its-kind online training programme with the University of Leicester School of Business.
It takes a village of allies to support a person with Ichthyosis – a new meme and some links to Ichthyosis resources (carlyfindlay.com.au)
I have never understood this green meme that pops up every Ichthyosis Awareness Month.
Channel 4's Paralympic Production Training Scheme opens for applicants (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Channel 4’s Paralympic Production Training Scheme will give 19 disabled people the chance to launch their broadcast careers with 12-month placements at independent production companies across the UK – and some will go on to work on the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Taking on PT & exercise with Heather Schoen (acoupletakesonms.com)
What an amazing moment to have a candid conversation about physical therapy, exercise and Multiple Sclerosis with Heather Schoen – the first physical therapist Jennifer saw shortly after she was diagnosed with MS more than 25 years ago.
Your role in leading culture change (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
Business Disability Forum CEO Diane Lightfoot discusses the important role senior leaders play in driving culture change surrounding diversity and inclusion. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing conversations around disability and diversity in creating a culture of "psychological safety." Leaders can lead culture change by sharing their experiences, becoming allies, modeling a different way of working, and equipping people managers with the knowledge and tools to support their team.
Exploring Maslow's Hierarchy of Special Needs (the-squeaky-wheel.com)
Sociologists have recently discovered that around the same time he created his groundbreaking Hierarchy of Needs, Abraham Maslow also conceptualized the more obscure Hierarchy of Special Needs. Maslow’s experiments involved observing the behavior of monkeys with what he called “physical abnormalities” (Maslow, 1944).
The dark universe: can a scientist battling long Covid unlock the mysteries of the cosmos? (theguardian.com)
The long read: Since being laid low with the virus more than a year ago, Catherine Heymans can only operate in half-hour bursts. But her work could still change the way we understand the universe.
I suffered three ableist incidents in one week - please respect wheelchair users (metro.co.uk)
I felt scared and all three interactions tarnished how much I enjoy being alone in public.
Long road to recovery leads Barrington High School alum to 'Baking Show' tent (dailyherald.com)
Nirali Chauhan, who grew up in Barrington, is a contestant on the upcoming season of "The Great American Baking Show." Chauhan suffered a traumatic brain injury 8½ years ago, and baking became a part of her recovery.
Meet The First Deaf Student to Graduate from CNM Ingenuity’s CDL Program (cnm.edu)
Gloriann Gurule is paving the way for other deaf and hard of hearing people to pursue a career in truck driving.
Student-Led Commission at BYU Advocated for Accessibility, Created Framework for Other Campuses (dailyutahchronicle.com)
Kendra Muller, a civil rights attorney who works at Disability Rights California, the nation’s largest non-profit disability rights firm, graduated from Brigham Young University in 2019 in neuropsychology.
Danforth Campus: ADA compliant, but still not accessible (studlife.com)
When Washington University opened the new East End of campus, it was hailed for its commitment to accessibility. The new buildings all had large, street level entrances, automatic doors not only for exterior doors but inside as well, and large centrally located elevators. However, for many disabled students, there remains much room for improvement on the rest of campus.
A University’s New Approach to Student Mental Health: Put Therapists in the Dorms (chronicle.com)
Virginia Tech aims to make treatment more accessible and relieve pressure on resident assistants, who have increasingly become first responders to students in crisis.
Think College Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Expand College Access for Students with Intellectual Disability (yahoo.com)
BOSTON, April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Think College, a center at the University of Massachusetts Boston dedicated to expanding college options for students with intellectual disability, announced today the launch of its public awareness campaign, Think Higher. Think College. The campaign aims to expand college access for students with intellectual disability (ID) by ensuring students explore a variety of college options during transition planning, increasing the number of institutions of higher education offering programs for students with ID, and preparing students for college while in high school.
CDC opens probe after 35 test positive for covid following CDC conference (washingtonpost.com)
Attendees say many people did not mask, socially distance or take other precautions recommended earlier in the pandemic.
The Devastating Reality Of Being Pregnant And Autistic (medium.com)
A raw and vulnerable account of my pregnancy as an autistic woman.