How I make it work as a disabled parent
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
How I make it work as a disabled parent (ablemagazine.co.uk)
As a disabled parent, it’s a good idea to harness the small things that can make all the difference. As a disabled parent of two children, I completely empathise with disabled individuals who are questioning whether they are physically or mentally capable of raising children. I suppose this might be something that all prospective parents wonder to some degree, regardless of disability. But for those of us who are disabled, we have extra obstacles to navigate.
Specialist alarms for Deaf people and people with impaired hearing (ablemagazine.co.uk)
As winter approaches and we spend more time indoors, it’s important to ensure our homes are safe, especially for people who are Deaf or have hearing impairments. With heaters, fireplaces, and other sources of warmth in use, the risk of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) leaks increases. Having reliable safety devices that cater to your specific needs is key to staying safe and feeling secure.
Sacramento Families Gain Better Access to Autism Services as ABA Therapy Opens New Location (disabilityinsider.com)
Sacramento ABA Therapy announced the opening of its newest treatment center in Sacramento, providing hope for local families seeking autism support services. The facility, which is open with no current waitlist, provides immediate access to applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy in a region where families often face extended service waiting periods.
Global aviation advances accessible air travel for 1.3 billion persons with disabilities (disabilityinsider.com)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will host The Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation from 2 to 3 December 2024 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, uniting governments, industry leaders and advocacy groups to tackle barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities.
A ‘tax and spend’ budget? Not for disabled people. For us, austerity lives on (theguardian.com)
The DWP confirms that draconian ‘savings’ are coming down the track. Are we a nation that will repair hospitals, but not help a nurse with long Covid, asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
Public viewing "Displaced by war" (inkultur.org)
On November 1st, 2024, our “Barrierfree Safety for People with Disabilities” project hosted a powerful screening event that brought together displaced Ukrainians with disabilities and their family members to share their personal stories of resilience and adaptation.
In favour of cancel culture (ablemagazine.co.uk)
You might never have heard of Luke Mockridge, but he is a well-known German comedian and podcaster. During the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he joked, inappropriately, that: “There are people without legs and arms, who are thrown into a pool – and the last one to drown is the winner.” After this, his podcast was dropped and his YouTube channel was suspended. Only then, did he apologise.
Careers with plenty of heart (ablemagazine.co.uk)
Midland Heart is a well-established housing organisation and employer in the Midlands working to give more people an affordable place to call home.
Empowering Neurodivergent Voice Actors: Casting Advice + Industry Insights (youtube.com)
In this insightful and empowering conversation, top casting directors and neurodivergent voiceover talent discuss the importance of authentic representation in voiceover. This panel dives deep into the challenges and opportunities for neurodivergent actors, sharing invaluable advice on navigating the casting room, and finding success in the competitive world of voiceover work.
Pain in the Person (youtube.com)
This is the first of two conversations between Andy, a chronic pain sufferer, and Richmond, the founder of Pain Coaching.
The ‘really messy system’ that limits where millions of disabled people can vote (msnbc.com)
A legal exemption for religious institutions may affect millions of voters.
Ruling Revives Lawsuit To Allow State Funding For Special Ed To Go To Religious Schools (disabilityscoop.com)
In a move that could have nationwide implications, an appeals court revived a lawsuit by families who sued over one state's policy of not funding special education programs at religious schools.
When We Mourn Together (sharingloneliness.substack.com)
How Grief, Dementia, and the Lives of Our Elders Can Bring Us Closer
How The Apple Watch Made Me Feel Seen (youtube.com)
New partnership will explore how journeys can be improved for people with sight loss (attoday.co.uk)
A new partnership between the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Motability Foundation will explore innovative ways of making journeys better for people with sight loss, including how assistive technologies can support with independent travel.
Beyond Compliance: Making Accessibility a Leadership Priority (accessiblelink.substack.com)
It won't work without the top
How SMBs Can Use AI Hiring Tech in Inclusive Ways (directemployers.org)
Tune in to explore how AI hiring tech transforms inclusive hiring practices and learn actionable strategies to create an equitable workplace for people with disabilities.
Your Guide to More Inclusive AI-Powered Hiring Tools (peatworks.org)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how companies recruit and hire workers. Depending on how they are designed and used, these new AI-powered hiring technologies can bring benefits or create barriers.
AI & Inclusive Hiring Framework (peatworks.org)
Welcome to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Inclusive Hiring Framework! This resource can help guide you through the process of making your AI-enabled hiring tools more inclusive and accessible for disabled job seekers. Below are a few important notes to help you get started. Pace yourself: Implement this resource in stages.
Miss Manners: My disability is not up for discussion (al.com)
My husband and I are acquainted with an older couple, and the lady often “reminds” me that I am disabled. I believe she is simply reminding herself of my status in order to keep her acquaintances organized in her mind, but it is unkind.
Millions of voters have disabilities. Some say the presidential candidates are ignoring them (eu.usatoday.com)
Disability advocates say they couldn't get the presidential candidates to respond to questions that were important to their community.
Disabled Workers Deserve More Than Subminimum Wage (time.com)
It's time to end a federal law that confines Disabled people to a lifetime of poverty and segregation
Hate is the Worst Answer to Any Question (gaelynnlea.substack.com)
Please vote tomorrow, then recommit yourself to love.
Getting Ready for Winter and Christmas (ablemagazine.co.uk)
It’s that time again, when the days get colder, the nights grow longer, and we start looking forward to the end of the year. Winter and Christmas are often busy for many people but can also be a lonely period for some. Either way, it’s important to take care of ourselves.
I’m still nervous about disclosing my autism diagnosis (ablemagazine.co.uk)
I have an admission. Now, this may seem like an odd admission for me to make, but I still get nervous about disclosing my autism diagnosis to people.
Schulbegleitung: individuelle Hilfeangebote nutzen! (kobinet-nachrichten.org)
Kinder und Jugendliche können - insbesondere in Fällen einer (drohenden) seelischer Beeinträchtigung - in der Regel nicht ohne Weiters allein auf die Inanspruchnahme sonderpädagogischer Förderung durch die Schulen verwiesen werden. Wir (kobinet) unterstützen das Thema und veröffentlichen den Beitrag des Autors RA Andreas Jakubietz. Er ist Rechtsanwalt in Berlin und als Fachanwalt für Verwaltungsrecht im Bereich Bildungsrecht, insbesondere auf dem Gebiet des Schulrechts und des Hochschulzulassungsrechts tätig. Der Jurist ist Vater einer Tochter und lebt in Berlin-Zehlendorf.
Adapting on the Go: Misadventures in Interviewing (ablemagazine.co.uk)
The annual Cerebral Palsy Scotland Conference was held in October, bringing together different organisations that support people with cerebral palsy.
The art of play make your own zine with Dolly Sen (youtube.com)
Join Dolly Sen as they guide you through a fun and easy zine-making workshop using simple materials you already have at home. Dolly shares their personal story about creativity and mental health, showing how art can be a tool for self-expression and empowerment. Perfect for anyone looking to explore their own creativity and well-being!
Tina Friml Stand-Up: Disabled Life in NYC, Drake's Role on Degrassi (youtube.com)
Comedian Tina Friml talks about being from Vermont, living her best life as a disabled person and growing up with no representation in the media.
Voting is Not Harm Reduction – An Indigenous Perspective (indigenousaction.org)
Voting is Not Harm Reduction An Indigenous Perspective February 2020 – www.indigenousaction.org Zine format printable PDF download: Voting is Not Harm Reduction Zine-FINAL-PRINT (9.8MB) When proclamations are made that “voting is harm reduction,” it’s never clear how less harm is actually calculated.
special early u.s. election prep edition of postcards (llps.substack.com)
fucking yay!
Meditation for the Movement (disabilityculturalcenter.org)
Calm your nervous system and be in community on election day. Blind elder and meditation leader Dennis Billups has been bringing meditation to disability activism since he participated in the 504 occupation in 1977. He will guide our meditation practice by drawing from his lived and spiritual experience, centering the importance of breath and quiet to fight oppression and care for our whole selves.
Vanessa Hernández Cruz - Void Decryption ERROR (highwaysperformance.org)
Cruz's experimental evening-length work brings you into a reality that flickers like a glitch—a cryptic blend of dance, visual art, live-streaming, and film where the boundaries between worlds blur and dissolve, revealing a hidden map of human connection in a hyper-digital age.
Why Jane Shi opened up about heritage, trauma and disability to write her poetry collection (cbc.ca)
The B.C. author's echolalia echolalia is a poetry collection exploring complex and personal experiences of being queer, disabled and seen as "the other."
echolalia echolalia from Brick Books (asterismbooks.com)
In Jane Shi's *echolalia echolalia,* commitment and comedy work together to critique ongoing inequities, dehumanizing ideologies, and the body politic. Here are playful and transformative narratives of friendship and estrangement, survival and self-forgiveness. Writing against inherited violence and scarcity-producing colonial projects, Shi expresses a deep belief in one's chosen family, love and justice.
Mad Studies Reader: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health (routledge.com)
The last few years have brought increased writings from activists, artists, scholars, and concerned clinicians that cast a critical and constructive eye on psychiatry, mental health care, and the cultural relations of mental difference.
That Paradise Place (abronsartscenter.org)
Abrons is a home for contemporary interdisciplinary arts in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. A core program of the Henry Street Settlement, Abrons mobilizes communities with the transformative power of art.
PLANTS PROPERTIES EQUIPMENT by AO Roberts (ao-roberts.itch.io)
Search for medical care on an unknown planet. Available for Windows
Canada Disability Benefit (monitormag.ca)
Getting it right out of the gate
A Cumulative $100M in Federal Recovery Funds Distributed Across 11 Communities (culturaldata.org)
How eleven Local Arts Agencies adopted a variety of strategies to distribute unprecedented amounts in relief funds to the arts and cultural sector.
SIGNING IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SINGING THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN (cripplepunkmag.substack.com)
Silence, to Deaf people, who are intensely visual people, isn't lack of sound; it’s lack of movement
MIMA — Towards New Worlds (mima.art)
Towards New Worlds is a large-scale exhibition sharing fifteen artists’ experiences of seeing, hearing, feeling and sensing the contemporary world. The exhibition explores a rich variety of human perceptions and sensory experiences through works of art, which make connections between the artists’ internal worlds and their external environments.
Updated Hospital Reporting Requirements for Respiratory Viruses (cdc.gov)
CMS releases final Hospital Data Reporting rule.
Stevie Nicks: ‘I Believe in the Church of Stevie’ (rollingstone.com)
In a nearly four-hour interview, Stevie Nicks talks Kamala Harris, longevity, why Fleetwood Mac are finished, making new music and much more
Solange Knowles Opens Up About 'Debilitating' Health Diagnoses: 'I Feel Really Grateful' (people.com)
Solange Knowles opened up about being diagnosed with multiple 'debilitating' medical conditions in 2018 in a candid Instagram post.
The Worst Kind of Corporate Greed (progressive.org)
While companies like Numotion prioritize profit, customers like me are forced to survive weeks—or months—without a working wheelchair.
The art of play make your own zine with Dolly Sen (hospital-rooms.com)
Dive into the enchanting world of pattern making with Giles Deacon as he explores the paisley print in this free online workshop.
Coalition urges Department of Transportation to issue strong rules requiring airlines to improve airport service workers’ training.
DOT Issues Landmark $50 Million Penalty Against American Airlines for Its Treatment of Passengers with Disabilities (transportation.gov)
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $50 million penalty against American Airlines (American) for numerous serious violations of the laws protecting airline passengers with disabilities between 2019 and 2023. DOT’s investigation into American Airlines uncovered cases of unsafe physical assistance that at times resulted in injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users, in addition to repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance. American also mishandled thousands of wheelchairs by damaging them or delaying their return, leaving travelers without the device they need for mobility.
Mask mandate returns to health care facilities in most Bay Area counties (nbcbayarea.com)
Starting Friday, workers and visitors at health care facilities in parts of the Bay Area will be required to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID and other infectious diseases.
Senate Report Shows How Medicare Advantage Giants Lie to Seniors and Deny Health Care (cepr.net)
Uncover the deceitful practices of Medicare Advantage insurance giants. Learn how private insurers prioritize profits over senior health.
‘Our members are raging’: Shock and anger as Scottish government’s ‘sham’ co-production leads to ‘weak’ disability plan (disabilitynewsservice.com)
Three national disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have attacked the Scottish government over a “sham” process of co-production that has led to a “weak” and “diluted” Disability Equality Plan for Scotland.
Weight-Loss Drug Cases Push to Recognize Obesity as Disability (news.bloomberglaw.com)
A series of state and federal lawsuits challenging coverage exclusions for obesity drugs and procedures are testing the bounds of what qualifies as a “disability” under discrimination laws as more workers seek to access the expensive treatments.
Open Call: Touch Aesthetics Fellowship (leonardo.info)
We are seeking disabled artists for a Los Angeles-based 3-month research and creative exploration fellowship that explores the intersections of haptics and disability, harnessing the transformative power of touch and creative technology to reimagine how we engage with the world and create new possibilities for learning, creativity and accessibility in immersive storytelling. A new landscape of experience design is now possible by combining immersive and interactive tools with new haptic vests, gloves, and hand/arm/feet tactile actuators.
Abilities Dance Boston presents Tales from the Crips: Reimagining Fairy Tales with a Disabled Lens (ticketstripe.com)
Abilities Dance Boston presents Tales from the Crips: Reimaging Fairy Tales with a Disabled Lens. This is our annual fall ballet that is taking different fairy tales and further emphasizing a disabled lens. What if Sleeping Beauty had Chronic Fatigue? What if a non-disabled Mulan was also impacted by ableism? These stories and more will come to life at the Strand Theatre live and livestreamed November 8 and 9 at 8 pm EST. Artistic direction/choreography under Ellice Patterson with musical direction under Andrew Choe.
When care is scarce (medium.com)
This piece draws connections between ableism, care, and abuse. It contains descriptions of sexual violence.
Access-Washing Genocide in Gaza (labsforliberation.org)
The Labs for Liberation fellows are exploring how ideas about disability and race can better inform how we think about design and technology. They will examine these intersections through blog posts throughout the year. In this year’s first blog post, LJ Jaffee explores the concept of “access-washing.” Access is usually considered the goal of disability rights and politics. But disability justice organizers, such as Stacey Park Milbern, have critiqued the way that the concept of “access” can also be used to justify violence against disabled and marginalized people. Access-washing is the first of many terms in “Critical Access Studies” that the fellows will explore.
One year into the ruthless military assault by Israel in Gaza, UN experts warned today that Palestinians with disabilities face unbearable protection risks, including inescapable death and injuries, amid indiscriminate attacks by Israeli occupation forces which have destroyed critical infrastructure, and annihilated the possibility of humanitarian assistance.
DevFest Vienna - 2024 review and 2025 planning (gdg.community.dev)
In-person Event - We will come together for a first review of DevFest 2024 and planning for DevFest 2025. Join us if you want to shape our next years edition.
How to think beyond the binary with design (meetup.com)
Before I became a designer, I didn't think too deeply about gender. I was born the way that I was, and that was that. Even if I wanted to change, it was impossible. But it is the designer's job to question, "why?" even if the answer may not be the one we expect--or want.
EU Policy update on Transport Accessibility: TSI-PRM and Passenger Rights. 14th November 2024 (edf-feph.org)
In previous months, the EU has proposed different pieces of legislation which aim, among other things, at improving access to transport by persons with disabilities. The new passenger rights proposals aim at improving enforcement and extending passenger rights, such as assistance, to multimodal journeys. The upcoming revision of TSI-PRM will aim at establishing new accessibility requirements for rolling stick and stations. In this webinar, we’ll invite officials from the European Commission to hear what we can expect from these initiatives and how they affect persons with disabilities.
Recognize the Unseen: Hidden Disabilities in Mobility (pointand.thinkific.com)
Discover how to improve mobility solutions for individuals with hidden disabilities.
People with blindness and low vision are squeezed by high costs of living − new research (theconversation.com)
About 1 in 4 of the people with blindness or low vision who were surveyed said they spent less on food to be able to afford expenses associated with their disability.
Chicago Cubs reach settlement on Americans with Disabilities Act violations at Wrigley Field (abc7chicago.com)
The Chicago Cubs plan to make Wrigley Field more accessible after federal prosecutor claimed that recent ball park renovations violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Louisiana AG sues feds to undo longstanding disability protections (thelensnola.org)
Because of objections to a federal rule protecting gender dysphoria, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has joined a multi-state lawsuit seeking to invalidate Section 504, the disability law best known for providing support for public school students.
EVs for All: How Car Shares Are Making Electric Vehicles Accessible (reasonstobecheerful.world)
For those not ready to invest in an EV of their own, community-first car shares are an affordable way to plug in to sustainable transit.
Massachusetts will launch working group to look at accessibility of hiking trails (nepm.org)
The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation is launching a group to evaluate the accessibility of hiking trails and make recommendations to expand and improve them.
NYPD Dragging Feet on Steps to Make Stations More Accessible (thecity.nyc)
It’s been eight years since a class-action lawsuit was filed against the city’s police department claiming federal disability law violations. Deadlines to fix the situation have been pushed back while New Yorkers scream for help.
Some people with ADHD thrive in periods of stress, new study shows (theguardian.com)
Patients responded well in times of ‘high environment demand’ because sense of urgency led to hyperfocus
Help Access Ready, Inc. Rebuild After Hurricanes Helene and Milton (accessready.org)
Natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton have left a trail of devastation across Florida and beyond. Communities are facing unimaginable losses, and many individuals are struggling to regain a sense of normalcy. Access Ready, Inc., based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, is committed to helping those in need, but we can’t do it alone.
Push to improve voting access for people with disabilities (njspotlightnews.org)
Advocates are working to ensure polling places are fully accessible and that people with disabilities know about their rights to vote.
Disabled People Still Face Barriers to Online Voter Registration in Most States (truthout.org)
Shortcomings in web accessibility and other obstacles may disenfranchise 40.2 million eligible disabled US voters.
Accessibility at the ballot box (amsterdamnews.com)
People with disabilities and the elderly often face unique challenges getting accessible voter information
EP makes casting a ballot accessible to all (eplocalnews.org)
Accessible voting options in Eden Prairie, including curbside and OmniBallot machines, ensure individuals with disabilities can vote privately, independently, and conveniently.
For some Coloradans with disabilities, the upcoming election will be their first chance to vote without assistance from another person.
For Michigan voters with disabilities, barriers to the ballot box persist (votebeat.org)
Research on the accessibility of Metro Detroit polling places and a newly reported glitch with voter assist terminals highlight the challenges. A state hotline offers help.
84% of Detroit polling locations are inaccessible to people with disabilities (wdet.org)
Disability Power Detroit Founder Dessa Cosma joins the show to discuss the organization's 2023 report.
Disability issues forum tackles funding and accessibility (columbiamissourian.com)
State candidates at the forum differed in how they would address certain issues.
'Just like everybody else’: advocates advance voting accessibility for disabled Hoosiers (idsnews.com)
Turnout among voters with disabilities in Indiana remains lower than that of voters without disabilities.
Expert Explains How Polling Station Accessibility Impacts People With Disabilities When Voting (youtube.com)
Kyle Walker, Board President of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss how the voting system is set up and how it harms people with disabilities.
Accommodations at polling stations are in place for voters with disabilities (houstonpublicmedia.org)
Some of the accommodations voters have the right to ask for include curbside voting, help to vote and the ability to sit down while waiting in line.
QC accessibility blossoms with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower partnership (wvik.org)
Visit Quad Cities is partnering with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to support non-visible disabilities. This partnership makes Visit Quad Cities' Davenport location the first in Iowa.
'Everybody can play': DPS's first-ever ADA-accessible and inclusive playground was spearheaded by students (denver7.com)
Every child should get to have fun on a playground. That's the idea behind the first-ever ADA-accessible and inclusive playground within Denver Public Schools.
Advocates march to demand sidewalk accessibility in Atlanta (atlantanewsfirst.com)
Some people who gathered said they want Atlanta City Council members to ensure that Atlanta’s infrastructure can properly serve people with mobility challenges or disabilities.
Step inside one of the MBTA's future Green Line 'supercars' this week at City Hall (wbur.org)
The MBTA is inviting the public to take a peek inside of one of the new Green Line trolley "supercars" this Tuesday and Wednesday at Boston's City Hall Plaza. “The feedback is going to be invaluable to make sure that these suit not only our operator needs, but the public needs,” said MBTA General Manager Phil Eng.
MBTA displays new Green Line train car designed with accessibility in mind (whdh.com)
The MBTA has revealed a new and improved Green Line train that could soon replace the current fleet.
Riders have some concerns about accessibility of new Green Line 'supercars' (wgbh.org)
Riders say the mockup of the new fleet is more accessible, but parts of the train are too difficult to navigate in a wheelchair.
Feds, Cubs reach deal over wheelchair seats at Wrigley Field (courthousenews.com)
The ballpark's ADA updates are expected to be finished in time for opening day in 2025.
Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Talks Yellow Cab Accessibility and More (wnyc.org)
New York City’s iconic yellow cabs are in for a change. The Taxi and Limousine Commission recently finalized rules that require every new yellow taxi cab hitting the streets to be wheelchair-accessible, but some taxi drivers are pushing back. Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Do talks to WNYC's Sean Carlson more about accessibility as well as recent lockouts for Uber and Lyft drivers.
Taxi drivers say new accessibility rule risks their livelihoods (ny1.com)
The rule mandates all new taxis be wheelchair accessible, which can cost $90,000.
ARL ADA Title II Resources Encourage Licensing Born-Accessible Content (arl.org)
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) updated its regulations on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to include standards for making web content accessible for people with disabilities. Two complementary ARL resources emphasize how born-accessible publishing—building accessibility into digital content in the first place—would support students with disabilities in receiving access to coursework and research materials at the same time as their peers, and ensure compliance with the accessibility standards.
Everyone Wants to Improve Service for Passengers with Disabilities—Except Airlines (thrillist.com)
"I don't think the people that are responsible for getting us in and out of the airplanes are provided with the tools and the training and the resources they need."
My experience exploring the Wales Coast Path as a wheelchair user (countryliving.com)
It's the first path in the world to follow the entire length of a country's coastline
Accessible walks in Sonoma County (sonomacountygazette.com)
Sonoma County provides several outdoor spots with level surfaces, perfect for older adults and those with disabilities.
People with disabilities ask feds to restore ‘hope’ and raise benefit amount (globalnews.ca)
Advocates are asking the federal government to reconsider the Canada Disability Benefit amount in the months before the benefit rolls out.
Spruce Grove family feels accessible homes are an overlooked option (sprucegroveexaminer.com)
After navigating a mountain of red tape and spending a small fortune on transforming their garage into an accessible home, the Chan family in Spruce Grove hopes to shed light on how difficult the process can be.
Accessible Innovation in Tunisia: Civic and Voter Education through Collaboration (ifes.org)
IFES launches a new civic education platform with the Tunisian disability community. Icharti W Sawti (“My Sign and My Voice”).
St. Albert MLA plans to table accessibility bill this fall (stalbertgazette.com)
MLA Marie Renaud says she plans to table a bill this fall that could make Alberta more accessible to those with disabilities.
Alberta publishes new accessibility design guide, but minister says more needs to be done (cbc.ca)
The Alberta government has published a new accessibility design guide, marking the first major update to the document since 2017.
Beloved Dungeons And Dragons Show Embraces Accessibility (scoop.co.nz)
Can I Get an Underground Location and a Mythical Creature? is a wildly successful improvised Dungeons & Dragons stage show from theatre company Improverished. It’s about to embark on its 6th season, having previously sold out at NZ Comedy Festival, NZ Improv Festival, and Auckland Pride. For the first time ever, Improverished are bringing in an accessibility advisor to make this completely improvised show more accessible to audiences with disabilities.
Telecel eight-year ‘Super Care’ journey of inclusion and accessibility (thebftonline.com)
For eight years, Telecel Ghana has been breaking barriers to inclusive customer support and redefining what it means to serve all customers. Through its pioneering Super Care initiative launched in 2016, the telecommunications giant has made one thing clear: improving accessibility for people with special needs is a staunch commitment.
Trick-or-treating made accessible for everyone: ‘So much fun and it’s so easy’ (globalnews.ca)
Treat Accessibly started in 2017 when Rich Padulo's six-year-old daughter asked him how their neighbour in a wheelchair would be able to trick-or-treat at their house.
Bringing mobility to all: Enhancing accessibility across Wales (herald.wales)
Accessibility has become a pressing issue for many communities in Wales, as local governments and organisations make strides towards creating welcoming and accessible spaces for everyone. At the heart of this movement is the growing role of mobility scooters, which offer a practical and empowering solution for individuals with limited mobility. These scooters are transforming lives by providing the freedom to move around with ease and participate fully in daily life.
Advisor David Lyons-Black Works To Break Down Accessibility Barriers (travelpulse.ca)
Accessible travel expert and advisor David Lyons-Black has been in the business more than 25 years. But planning trips for people with physical challenges wasn’t always his focus.
Built heritage struggles with accessibility (theglobeandmail.com)
‘If you can’t get into the building, you can’t use the building’, says new study’s author
How Tallinn is using crowdsourced photos to improve transport accessibility (cities-today.com)
Tallinn is using a network of volunteers to map over 1,000 public transport stops in a bid to improve accessibility in the Estonian capital.
Are Sarnia's accessibility transportation options hitting the mark? (cknxnewstoday.ca)
City staff want a clearer picture of the community's need for accessible transportation options.
Flagging accessibility as EU eyes cross-border rail through-ticketing (runwaygirlnetwork.com)
If international rail travel is to become a part of Europe’s future, accessibility and other barriers must be addressed.
Human-centered design and using visual journey maps enable mobility and accessibility in Mongolia (adb.org)
ADB worked in partnership with communities and the local government in Ulaanbaatar to improve the personal safety of residents as they travel on roads and in public buses in ger areas.
Accessibility advances in Nova Scotia workplaces (reminetwork.com)
Nova Scotia's Accessibility Advisory Board released a set of recommendations to guide the province's accessibility employment standard.
Feedback wanted: Province releases recommendations for accessibility employment standard (hcamag.com)
'These recommendations will shape the standard regulations needed to make that a reality'
UNESCO supports disability equality for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction (unesco.org)
As Ukraine navigates the aftermath of prolonged war, the media sector is critical in fostering open dialogue around diversity, equality and inclusion. To actively address disability equality and serve underrepresented audiences, UNESCO sensitizes and guides dozens of Ukrainian media in this pivotal transformation for the country’s recovery and reconstruction process.
MP Bachrach Speaks Up on Airline Accessibility (cftktv.com)
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP and Transportation Critic Taylor Bachrach rose in Parliament yesterday to call out the Minister of Transportation for allegedly allowing Canadian Airlines to get away with mistreating passengers on airlines.
Using Built-In Software Accessibility Checkers – Part 2: Adobe Acrobat Pro (mn.gov)
Welcome to part two of our built-in accessibility checkers series. In this article, we explore the Adobe Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker tool and how it can help you ensure accessibility features are present in your PDFs.
Using Built-In Software Accessibility Checkers – Part 1: Microsoft Word (mn.gov)
We want to expand on your accessibility testing tool list and explore tools that are built into commonly used content drafting software and are easy to use. In this first of two articles, we explore Microsoft Word’s Accessibility Checker tool and how it can help you ensure accessibility features are present in your document.
Worried you're losing your mind? Study shows that belief alone could harm your brain (studyfinds.org)
Do you believe that getting older inevitably means becoming more forgetful? Researchers explain why you could be dooming your brain health.
For Ernie Johnson, Accessibility Is About Making Prostate Cancer Awareness Available To Men Everywhere (forbes.com)
The campaign goes from September through November, with Depend writing on its website the company’s goal is to raise $300,000 to donate to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The Ultimate ADA Compliance Employer Checklist: A Guide for Businesses with 15+ Employees (accessabilityofficer.com)
Have 15+ employees? This ADA workplace accessibility assessment tells you if your workplace is compliant and accessible for employees with disabilities
Opinion | Going Beyond Hearing Aids for Equal Care Access (medpagetoday.com)
Hearing loss is only becoming more prevalent
Protecting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (civilrights.org)
The Leadership Conference convenes advocates from civil rights, employment, education and labor to protect DEIA.
Non-disabled people leading our town are contorting themselves to (altamontenterprise.com)
The Guilderland town planner, Ken Kovalchik, appears to have spent more time writing a response [“Updated comprehensive plan makes recommendations to increase accessibility,” The Altamont Enterprise, Oct. 17, 2024] to my letter to the Altamont Enterprise editor [“No mention of the needs of disabled in comprehensive plan,” Oct. 10, 2024] than to addressing disabled in the comprehensive plan.
Inclusivity in Generative AI Should Be an Attribute, Not an Add-On (SSIR) (ssir.org)
With gen AI support, humanoid robots can help people with disabilities conquer long-standing barriers to inclusivity and independence in the workplace and beyond. If, that is, their design mirrors the inclusivity they are built to provide.
The Disabled Community’s Election-Season Message to America: Don’t Box Us Out (commondreams.org)
We deserve to not just survive, but to thrive. And we’ll fight like hell, and vote like hell, until we get everything we deserve.
Expanding Our Commitment to Sensory-Friendly Experiences at the Comcast Center Campus (corporate.comcast.com)
Comcast announced expanded accessibility offerings at the company’s headquarters campus in Philadelphia with the opening of a Sensory-Friendly Room at the Comcast Center.
Create an Accessible, Organized Kitchen to Age in Place (aarp.org)
Pare down and relocate the essentials to make the space safer and easier to manage
Neurodiversity At Work: Neuroinclusion Accessibility Accommodations (forbes.com)
Accommodations and accessibility are important. But they don’t automatically create inclusion. We must remove systemic cultural barriers.
Time to Stop Burying Your Head in the Sand When It Comes to Web Accessibility (lbbonline.com)
Bernadette's Steph Marques on how accessibility guidelines are changing and why brands need to take action now to ensure they’re ready.
Connected Packaging for Accessibility: How Smart Tech Enhances Inclusivity (lbbonline.com)
In a world where diversity is celebrated, connected packaging is emerging as a revolutionary approach to reaching and supporting all consumers. Appetite Creative's exploration of this innovative technology showcases how smart solutions can enhance inclusivity, ensuring that products and their information are accessible to individuals of all abilities.
Naming things is still a common and enduring challenge in accessibility (cerovac.com)
Naming is one of the most difficult and enduring challenges in software engineering, and it is obvious that it's also a giant problem in accessibility. How can you help?
Accessible names (govtnz.github.io)
An accessible name identifies a user interface (UI) element to assistive technologies and their users — this is especially important for interactive components.
Disability, inclusion and learning from the Paralympics (business-reporter.co.uk)
As the world turned its attention to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (August 28 to September 8), we were reminded of the incredible journey that began in 1948 with just 16 injured servicemen and women participating in archery at the Stoke Mandeville Games. At that time, the Paralympics acted as a catalyst for societal transformation.
The power of AI to increase access to good jobs for all (blogs.microsoft.com)
As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we reflect on the role of partnership in fostering an inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to choose meaningful work. This year’s NDEAM theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All”, means preparing workplaces to be more accessible and inclusive for disabled talent. LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute recently published their Disability Status and Work trends report, showing that people with disabilities are less likely to be currently working or in leadership positions compared to people without disabilities, though these gaps tend to be smaller for younger generations of workers compared with older generations. Technology, including AI and generative AI, holds transformative power to create more equitable opportunities for people with disabilities.
Few Companies Meet Accessibility Standards (destinationcrm.com)
As the European Accessibility Act deadline looms, businesses need to act swiftly.
Overcoming electric vehicle accessibility concerns (greenfleet.net)
Disabled drivers are facing some very basic accessibility barriers when it comes to electric vehicles. So what is being done to address the issue?
Addressing the digital accessibility gap (ozewai.org)
The Australian Web Accessibility Initiative (OZeWAI) co-hosted a fully accessible workshop with the Future Skills Organisation (FSO), which was held to gather evidence for the FSO’s ‘Bridging the Digital Divide: Digital Accessibility and Inclusion’ discussion paper. Over 40 people participated online, from local, state and federal government.
Accessibility and inclusive design manual blog (accessibility.blog.gov.uk)
How the Department of Education (DfE) are supporting teams through user-focused accessibility and inclusive design guidance and training to ensure that everyone has access to the services they need.
How Can Accessibility Shape a Better City? (tvo.org)
Things like public transit, building codes, and snow removal are not always planned keeping in mind people with disabilities. So, what does an accessible city for all look like? Writer and disability organizer Emily Macrae has some suggestions, and they can be found in a new book of essays and interviews she’s edited, called “Living Disability: Building Accessible Futures for Everybody”.
Building growth through accessibility (business-reporter.co.uk)
In recent years, increased awareness of those living with disabilities and impairments has shifted attitudes and public policy around accessibility. Examples of this can be found in transport, where 95% of London bus stops are now wheelchair accessible, and in the UK Government’s 32-step Disability Action Plan, which aims to implement nationwide measures to increase the accessibility of public infrastructure.
Protection against the sun (disabilitydebrief.org)
Climate change, backsliding democracy and news from 55+ countries
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the power of adaptation that that makes the DOE workforce stronger during an hour-long celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Taryn Mackenzie Williams: Shaping Disability Employment Policy (voiceamerica.com)
Joyce welcomes Taryn Mackenzie Williams, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, to the show. In this position, Ms.
Section 508 Accessibility Empowers Patients to Manage Care (dvidshub.net)
For people with disabilities, accessible communications are vital, especially when it comes to their health care. "Depending on the medical diagnosis and the prescribed regimen, this may impact the patient’s sight, hearing, cognition, and mobility, which are essential for performing any computer-related tasks,” said Ameenah Ghoston, the Defense Health Agency’s Section 508 Program Office manager.
Podcast: AI & Inclusive Hiring for Employers (peatworks.org)
Natasha Bansgopaul, a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow at NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), gives insight into PEAT’s new Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Inclusive Hiring Framework. Natasha shares how the Framework was developed and how it can help employers evaluate AI-powered hiring technology using a disability-inclusive lens.
Deep Dive in Five: The Importance and Value of Accessible Education with SJSU Online Student Jade Steele (blogs.sjsu.edu)
It is vital to ensure that higher education is as accessible as possible for all learners, whether they also work, care for children, live in a remote area, have a disability or experience other circumstances that make in-person learning difficult. Fortunately, SJSU Online creates valuable, affordable and flexible opportunities for people to complete their bachelor’s degrees 100% online, no matter where they are in life.
Access Compliance and Education welcomes new American Sign Language interpreters (news.clemson.edu)
Clemson's Office of Access Compliance and Education (ACE) is committed to providing accessible resources to ensure equivalent access to educational
ADA Equals Access: A Call to Action for National Disability Awareness Month (news.uark.edu)
Access to ADA accessible parking sites is crucial to the educational opportunities for some students, but citations for violations at resident reserved ADA parking spaces has increased over the last two years.
Disability History Month and International People with Disabilities Awareness Day (IDAD) 2024 (bath.ac.uk)
The University commemorates Disability History Month from 14 November - 20 December and IDAD on 3 December with a series of activities and events.
Disabled students, allies demand UI improve accessibility with The Walk & Roll March (dailyillini.com)
A group of students gathered in front of Noyes Laboratory and marched to the Henry Administration Building on Monday to demand the University address accessibility issues across campus. Alyx Bibbs, senior in AHS, planned the event, known as The Walk & Roll March, after struggling with inaccessibility and ableism around campus.
$7.2M National Digital Accessibility Project to Impact Students With Disabilities (usu.edu)
A four-year, $7.2M NCADEMI officially launched at Utah State University in October 2024.
Accessible Web Development for Underrepresented Disabilities (scholarworks.calstate.edu)
This paper explores how to improve inclusivity for individuals with invisible underrepresented cognitive disabilities in Information and communication technology (ICT), specifically web design. To this end, we focused on the following topics: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 A and AA standards web requirements designed to accommodate those with underrepresented cognitive disabilities, the challenges of accommodating underrepresented disabilities in ICT, practical strategies for accommodating those with underrepresented cognitive disabilities in ICT, and an examination of accessibility overlays as tools to help accommodate those with underrepresented cognitive disabilities. We argue that it is imperative for all organizations to strive to improve inclusivity for those with underrepresented cognitive disabilities. By applying the WCAG A and AA standards in partnership with these practical guidelines discussed within this paper; organizations can create a more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for those affected by these underrepresented cognitive disabilities as well as an overall improved experience for all users. Research on this topic was done in partnership with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) under the 19-CS-11242305-075 agreement, to better understand and help meet the needs of the disabled community.
Predictors of Postsecondary Web Accessibility, 2012 to 2022 (scholarworks.calstate.edu)
The current study, conducted in 2022, is a follow-up to research conducted in 2012. Researchers compared data collected ten years apart in order to determine whether and how web accessibility, related policies, and the presence of "accessibility" links on home pages had changed over time. The top ten web pages for all U.S. higher institutions were collected using the Google Search API, and were evaluated for accessibility using WAVE, by WebAIM. Automated Accessibility Scores (AAS) were calculated for each institution. Additional data were collected from various sources, including data related to demographics, federal funding, endowment, specific characteristics of accessibility policies, whether institutions have "accessibility" links on their home pages, and whether institutions had resolved complaints with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or been the recipient of one or more lawsuits related to digital accessibility. Some of these measures were collected in the 2012 study as well, allowing for comparison over time. The longitudinal comparison found significant increases in web accessibility scores, number of accessibility policies, and number of accessibility links on home pages across all types of institutions. Analysis of variance found that institutions with the highest average web accessibility scores in 2022 have had OCR resolutions; are categorized as Coalition of Urban Serving Universities; or have a digital accessibility policy, especially if it identifies a responsible party. Of the institutions that serve traditionally underserved populations, Women's Colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions have higher web accessibility scores, while Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribal Colleges have lower scores. Overall, institutions with the lowest average accessibility scores are private for-profit institutions, those categorized as "Exclusively graduate or professional," very small institutions, and institutions with no digital accessibility policy. Multiple regression analysis found that taken together, the strongest, most stable combination of predictors of web accessibility are size of the institution, having resolved at least one OCR complaint, having some type of web accessibility policy, being a public institution, being a private for-profit institution (negative association), having received a National Science Foundation (NSF) award, having received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) award (negative association), having at least one lawsuit related to digital accessibility, having a responsible party identified in an accessibility policy, being an HBCU or a Tribal College (negative association), and total degrees conferred (negative association).
Purdue University to Open Accessible Precision Audiology Research Center (hearingreview.com)
Purdue University will open the research center in Indianapolis to advance precision audiology research and improve hearing health access.
New Tools Make Chemistry Accessible to Vision-Impaired Students (govtech.com)
Academic publisher Wiley has partnered with ed-tech company Alchemie to reduce barriers for blind and low-vision students to the field of chemistry, which relies heavily on visual representations of matter.
Scranton kinesiology professor Gina Gray wins Accessible Syllabus Competition (psu.edu)
Penn State's Campus-wide Accessible Syllabus Competition highlights the importance of accessibility in higher education and the University's new tool in Canvas — Anthology Ally.
U of T grad discovers a passion for accessibility research and design (utoronto.ca)
The first in his family to attend university, Alexander Parent felt like he had already exceeded expectations before pursuing a master’s degree in user experience design at the University of Toronto – then he fell in love with his research. With a mild form of cerebral palsy that affects the right side of his body, Parent focused on design and critical disability studies – including designing adaptive toys for children with disabilities. He says his work in the field emphasizes the importance of understanding end users.
Learn About Digital Accessibility Best Practices November 13-15 (isu.edu)
Disability Services is offering free online access to 2024 Accessing Higher Ground
Harnessing AI Tools to Improve Digital Accessibility (qmul.ac.uk)
In today's rapidly evolving landscape, universities need to ensure digital accessibility is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Digital Accessibility is not just a legal requirement under regulations such as the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Module Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, but also a moral obligation for universities. With the recent increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI), it is exciting to see the potential of AI to bridge the digital divide, to ensure that every student, regardless of ability, has access to the same learning opportunities.
Fellowship program to advance accessible teaching, learning practices (brocku.ca)
The Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI) has launched a new initiative to increase accessibility awareness through teaching and research at Brock.
UND’s Just Ask conference starts conversation on disability inclusion (blogs.und.edu)
UND's Campus Accessibility Working Group encourages community to "just ask" about improving disability inclusion on campus.
Early voting sees high turnout, grapples with accessibility issues (yaledailynews.com)
The 2024 presidential election marks Connecticut’s third — and longest — implementation of early voting. Many are taking advantage of the opportunity to cast a ballot before Nov. 5.
Student orgs unite to build benches, increase accessibility (vtcynic.com)
Members of SGA and UVM Disabled Students Union celebrated the installation of eight new bus benches on campus last Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Opportunity for competitive advantage at Access for All (miamioh.edu)
On October 25, 2025, the Access for All Annual Accessibility Symposium was held at the Shriver Center on Miami’s Oxford campus. A bright crowd of around 91 attendees gathered in the Heritage Room, eager to expand their knowledge of accessible technologies and how we use them at Miami.
UMD must employ AI for more accessible classrooms (dbknews.com)
The initial investment in AI technology may seem significant, but the long-term benefits of providing a more accessible and inclusive education outweigh the cost.
Harrison Participates on Disability Services Panel (hamilton.edu)
Assistant Dean for Accessibility Resources Allen Harrison Jr. recently participated in a webinar titled “Coaching in Disability Services: A Panel Discussion.”
How universities can support students with disabilities (newvision.co.ug)
Nalumaga says a university library must be designed in a way that accommodates students with different impairments — be it visual, auditory, physical or cognitive.
Highlighting changes and campus accessibility (msureporter.com)
This week’s Student Government meeting at Minnesota State featured key presentations on campus accessibility resources and a message from the University President Edward Inch, highlighting important steps toward inclusivity and student engagement.
Make Absentee Voting More Accessible (loyolaphoenix.com)
Writer Eliza Thomas expresses her frustrations with common struggles of absentee voting.
The A' Accessibility, Assistive Technologies, and Inclusive Design Award, a highly respected and internationally recognized design accolade, proudly unveils its extensive list of sub-categories for the 2024-2025 competition period. This prestigious award, now in its 16th year, aims to celebrate and honor the remarkable achievements of outstanding Assistive Technology Designers, Care Product Manufacturers, Accessibility Consultants, Inclusive Design Agencies, Rehabilitation Therapists, Medical Device Companies, Care Brands, Occupational Therapists, Special Education Professionals, Adaptive Equipment Manufacturers, Accessibility Researchers, Care Professionals, Industrial Designers, Architects, Interior Designers, Care Innovation, Consultancy, Research and Development Companies from across the globe.
LPI Seeking Committee Members for Its IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Independent Advisory Committee (lpi.usra.edu)
As we support and serve members of our diverse planetary science community, we want to take action to ensure we facilitate a culture and a profession that is inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible.
Dept. of Transportation: New motorists’ handbook delivers accessible, updated instructions and information to Wisconsin drivers (wispolitics.com)
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) now offers an updated Motorists’ Handbook that uses “plain language” principles to deliver driver information to Wisconsin residents that is clear, understandable and easy to read.
Bussler & Co Celebrates Digital Accessibility with Times Square Billboard Campaign During Dyslexia Awareness Month (finance.yahoo.com)
Bussler & Co, a New York marketing firm, today unveiled its digital accessibility message on a Times Square billboard, featuring an accessible design that calls on companies to "Make Your Site Accessible" during Dyslexia Awareness Month.
Department of State issues update for voters using Dominion Voter Assist Terminals (michigan.gov)
Voters using a Dominion VAT should be prepared for straight ticket/split ticket programming issue when marking their ballot.
London Gatwick and AccessAble launch accessibility guides to help passengers navigate the airport (thiis.co.uk)
London Gatwick airport has partnered with AccessAble to launch a series of bespoke Detailed Access Guides, helping passengers navigate more easily, safely and confidently through the airport.
Malware Exploits Accessibility Features on Your Smartphone, This Tool Can Help (i-hls.com)
As accessibility features continue to assist individuals with disabilities in navigating smartphones, they inadvertently open doors for cybercriminals. Malware is increasingly leveraging these tools to perform malicious actions—ranging from unauthorized financial transactions to rendering itself nearly impossible to uninstall. A single misstep, such as accidentally clicking on a phishing link can have detrimental effects.
Thales Wins Crystal Cabin Award for Innovative IFE Accessibility Solutions (railway.supply)
Thales recently received the esteemed Crystal Cabin Award for its pioneering IFE accessibility solutions, recognized for enhancing in-flight experiences and promoting inclusivity across the airline industry. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
SM Cares champions digital accessibility with Eye-Able® on its website (tribune.net.ph)
SM Cares is breaking new ground in digital accessibility by introducing Eye-Able® on the SM Supermalls website. Beginning 21 October, the platform will offer enhanced browsing features tailored for individuals with visual impairments or those needing digital assistance. This initiative reflects SM's ongoing dedication to making its digital spaces more inclusive and accessible to all.
Funding and support available for transport accessibility innovators (news.railbusinessdaily.com)
Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, has announced that applications are open for the Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, today announced that applications are open for the Scaling Innovation Programme.
Jaipur Hospitals Set for Accessibility Audit Starting October 28 (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
An accessibility audit for disabled-friendly infrastructure at private and state-run hospitals in Jaipur begins on October 28, following recent complaints about inadequate facilities.
IATA, ICAO, ACI Host Symposium on Aviation Accessibility (miragenews.com)
Montréal - The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI) will be jointly hosting a Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation from 2 to 3 December 2024 at the ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, Canada, brining together governments, industry representatives and advocacy groups to tackle barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities.
Brooklyn Playground Gets $10M ADA Renovation (bkreader.com)
Kelly Park Playground in Homecrest reopened on Tuesday following a renovation that focused on ADA accessibility.
MSP debuts enhanced accessibility programmes (airportsinternational.com)
Aira ASL (American Sign Language) and talk-to-text offer first-of-their-kind communication platforms for travellers who are deaf or hard of hearing
Improving Accessibility in Workplaces (news.novascotia.ca)
Recommendations from the Accessibility Advisory Board for the Province’s accessibility employment standard were released today, October 25.
A Crucible for All—Accessibility Features in Vessel of Hatred (news.blizzard.com)
Everyone should have the opportunity to battle monsters alongside Neyrelle in the Vessel of Hatred expansion. See how our latest accessibility features make this possible.
Does Google Search Use ARIA? (seroundtable.com)
Google Search likely does not use ARIA Accessible Rich Internet Applications, for ranking or even indexing purposes, according to both John Mueller and Martin Splitt at Google. ARIA is a set of attributes you can add to HTML elements that define ways to make web content and applications accessible to users with disabilities who use assistive technologies (AT).
Thumb Soldiers (thumbculture.co.uk)
If you are looking for an awesome accessibility accessory then the Thumb Soldiers might be what you are after.
How to...Add Alt Text to Images (gmu.edu)
George Mason University is committed to ensuring an inclusive digital experience. Both the SiteMasonry and Mason WordPress themes comply with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards. One essential practice to maintain accessibility is adding descriptive alt text to images.
Lenovo Exec Ada Lopez Talks Product Diversity Office, Accessibility, Bettering Society In Interview (forbes.com)
In what was only my third in-person interview since the pandemic, I sat down with Lenovo’s chief diversity officer in Ada Lopez one of the days whilst in the Pacific Northwest to discuss the company’s commitment to accessibility and how AI plays a role in facilitating it.
Detailed accessibility guide to help passengers confidently navigate London Gatwick airport (attoday.co.uk)
London Gatwick airport has partnered with AccessAble to launch a series of bespoke Detailed Access Guides, helping passengers navigate more easily, safely, and confidently through the airport.
Organizations work to make PTSD service dogs more accessible for veterans (wbbjtv.com)
We spoke with Nicole Lanahan of the nonprofit 'Got Your Six Support Dogs' and Veterinarian and Dr. Ruthann Lobos of Purina Highlight Special Dog Chow Service Dog Salute via zoom to talk about the problems many veterans face.
Signapse and CaptionHub Collaborate to Create More Accessible Tech (slator.com)
CaptionHub’s latest integration will deploy technology from sign language AI company, Signapse, for its global enterprise clients.
Blind passengers offered accessibility app access at all GTR stations (railwaygazette.com)
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway now offers free use of a smartphone app designed to enhance accessibility for blind and partially sighted passengers at all 236 of its managed stations.
Quietly accessible furniture aids aging in place with safety and style (mtdemocrat.com)
Knees get cranky, backs get stiff, balance isn’t what it used to be. Age isn’t easy on us. But the right furniture can make it easi-er. And, finally, one major furniture retailer is leaning into that with a line of “quietly accessible” furniture that looks like it belongs in a home not a rehab center.
Delta launches new flight map designed for accessibility (news.delta.com)
Customers traveling on Delta can look forward to a new, more accessible flight map designed with those with low-vision disabilities at the forefront, ensuring even more travelers can enjoy the flight map effortlessly and independently.
Metrolinx expands transit accessibility with MagnusCards Decks (metrolinx.com)
Six new digital guides can make taking transit easier.
United strengthens innovative accessibility initiatives (globetrender.com)
After the success of its digital wheelchair sizing tool, United Airlines is continuing to elevate its accessibility credentials rolling out Braille interiors, enhanced mobile features and accessible entertainment systems, alongside a new partnership with United Spinal Association. Olivia Palamountain reports.
The Accessibility Operations Guidebook (devonpersing.netlify.app)
Lessons in making accessibility work more practical and sustainable for you and your organization.
City Enhances Accessibility with New Rest Areas (stjohns.ca)
During public engagement for the 2024-2026 Accessibility Plan, the City heard that accessibility in parks and trails is important. We are pleased to announce the installation of new accessible rest areas in two local parks.
Museum designs sensory tour for blind visitorsl (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
From Victorian hats to a lump of iron ore, artefacts brought the past to life for visitors with sight loss during a museum’s first “touch tour”.
Theme Park Adding New 'Hidden Disability' Accommodations (disabilityscoop.com)
In a first-of-its-kind move, a popular theme park will offer a discrete way for visitors to alert staff throughout the park that they may need extra help even if their disability isn't apparent.
A Milestone in Disability Rights Jurisprudence (enil.eu)
On October 10, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered a critical ruling in the case “Validity Foundation on behalf of T.J. v. Hungary”, addressing the death of a woman with a severe intellectual disability who had been living in a state-run social care home. The Court found that the Hungarian state had violated both Article 2 (the right to life) and Article 34 (right of individual petition) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This case highlights the essential role of strategic litigation in holding governments accountable for violations of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Pain in the Person (youtube.com)
This is the first of two conversations between Andy, a chronic pain sufferer, and Richmond, the founder of Pain Coaching.
No, we don’t all have the same 24 hours in a day: On chronic pain and freelancing in an unreliable body (disabilityvisibilityproject.com)
One of the (supposedly) hot tips for creative people is that “we all have the same 24 hours in a day.” From bizarre LinkedIn posts to rich person fuckups during television interviews, this motivational chestnut is everywhere to the point of oversaturation. What the well-meaning hustle culture types who say this don’t tell you—or don’t believe, because why wouldn’t they–is that it is not true. Maybe the people who can’t devote time to their dream projects or side hustles are simply too exhausted from eight-plus hours at their day job. Maybe they have kids whose needs come first, and little to no help with childcare. Maybe, like me, they can’t count on their bodies being pain-free or energized enough to be productive for the bulk of those 24 hours.
Walk With The Weary (dhanyaravi.wordpress.com)
In my journey with life and health, I’ve had the chance to meet many doctors, and each visit fills me with a complex mix of emotions. Before stepping into their room, a thought always crosses my mind: Will this doctor feel that treating me might not make much difference, or will they find a sense of purpose in healing me, however they can?
The art of audio description can turn dance into a moving experience for all (theguardian.com)
Stopgap’s revelatory stage production Lived Fiction is committed to opening up dance for the whole audience
Push to count ‘sleepovers’ as breaks could lead to 28-hour shifts for Australian care workers, unions warn (theguardian.com)
Fair Work Commission to hear case brought by business group asking for change to safety net for care industries
New questions raised after deaf man attacked while sleeping on United flight out of SFO (abc7news.com)
We are following the story of a brutal beating on board a United Airlines flight out of San Francisco International Airport. As we first reported Wednesday night, a witness says the victim is deaf. That account raised questions for us about how airlines accommodate travelers who are hard-of-hearing.
Ruling Revives Lawsuit To Allow State Funding For Special Ed To Go To Religious Schools (disabilityscoop.com)
In a move that could have nationwide implications, an appeals court revived a lawsuit by families who sued over one state's policy of not funding special education programs at religious schools.
1 in 6 voters has a disability. That voting bloc is growing as the population ages (vpm.org)
NPR's A Martinez speaks with Dom Kelly, co-founder and CEO of the advocacy group New Disabled South, about the disabled community's needs and demands ahead of the presidential election.
Neurotribes: The New Diversity (lionsroar.com)
Steve Silberman’s book, "Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity," is changing the way we think about cognitive differences.
Six Years Ago: Kitty O'Neil Dies (deafnewstoday.com)
Professional stuntwoman Kitty O'Neil died six years ago today (Nov. 2, 2018) from pneumonia at the age of 72.
New Louisiana election laws creating challenges for voters with disabilities (cbsnews.com)
New election laws targeting mail-in voting could make it more difficult for voters with disabilities to cast their ballots, with thousands potentially unable to vote in the 2024 race in Louisiana. CBS News reporter Kati Weis spoke with one woman at the heart of a legal battle looking to overturn the laws.
Dentists Are Pulling ‘Healthy’ and Treatable Teeth To Profit From Implants, Experts Warn (kffhealthnews.org)
Americans are getting dental implants more than ever — and at costs reaching tens of thousands of dollars. Experts worry some dentists have lost sight of the soul of dentistry: preserving and fixing teeth.
Under Gov. Greg Abbott order, Texas hospitals now ask patients about citizenship status (dallasnews.com)
Most Texas hospitals are required to ask patients for their immigration status under an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott that took effect Friday.
I Protect Myself at 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (youtube.com)
Let’s talk about inclusive education to prevent ableism and violence against children with and without disabilities.
Aurora boy shines in critically acclaimed film screening at the Denver Film Festival (cpr.org)
Jeremiah Daniels, 12, is being widely lauded for his breakout debut role in "Color Book," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and will also be screened at the Denver Film Festival. The heartfelt drama tells the story of a single father navigating the challenges of raising his son who has Down syndrome.
Two Mumbai moms build a social platform for people with developmental challenges (yourstory.com)
Gopika Kapoor and Moneisha Gandhi turned their children's friendship into a platform fostering meaningful connections for young adults with developmental challenges, helping combat isolation and enriching lives.
Artist With Disabilities Achieves Success With Floral Sculptures (bernama.com)
The determination of 50-year-old Azmi Tahar, a person with disabilities, has led to supplementing his income by creating floral sculptures.
Climate action initiative brings together disability community worldwide (caribbeanlife.com)
This experience led him to start the initiative Green Disability six months ago, which is focused on pushing for climate action that includes disabled people.
Public transport still inaccessible to people with disabilities (risingnepaldaily.com)
Most public transportation remains inaccessible to people with disabilities, even 11 years after the 'Accessible Physical Structure and Communication Service Directive for Persons with Disabilities, 2013 was introduced.
Miss Uganda Pledges to Renovate Disability Centre in Kabale (nilepost.co.ug)
This centre, which has served as a home for over 50 individuals with special needs for more than 30 years, is in urgent need of repair due to its deteriorating condition.
European Disability Champions Crowned at Historic Event in Portugal (wpbsa.com)
World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS) crowned the first ever European Disability Snooker champions this week following an historic event staged in Albufeira, Portugal.
In their own words: Disabled storytellers share what ‘home’ means to them (publicintegrity.org)
Public Integrity held an event on July 26 called “What is Home?” that explored the challenges of finding safe homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Trailability: How off-road mobility vehicles are getting Coloradans with disabilities back outside! (kktv.com)
Everyone in Colorado should get to enjoy the great outdoors. A program right here in the Pikes Peak region is making sure that getting outside isn't off limits to anyone.
Understood.org CTO Rahul Rao Talks Invisible Disabilities, AI As Accessibility In Interview (forbes.com)
Rao described Understood as “the leading nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference for the almost 70 million Americans with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia.”
How socks are spreading joy and empowering people with disabilities (nbcboston.com)
John’s Crazy Socks began as a simple idea – to spread joy through vibrant sock designs. But it’s grown into something much more—a social enterprise that empowers individuals with disabilities. It started as a mission for John Cronin, who has Down Syndrome.
Clemson fraternity embraces student in intellectual disability program (cbsnews.com)
At Clemson University in South Carolina, the ClemsonLIFE program gives students with intellectual disabilities a chance to learn life skills for independent living. But as much as the program offers, junior Charlie McGee wanted the whole college experience -- including joining a fraternity. Steve Hartman goes "On the Road" for a story on the rewards of kindness and acceptance.
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Creatives Talk Disability Inclusion In The Show (forbes.com)
The second season of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is an exemplar for authentic and informed disability inclusion.
Work by artists with disabilities showcased at annual Vancouver exhibition (bc.ctvnews.ca)
The 20th annual Inclusion Art Show is being held in Yaletown Wednesday to showcase artists who have a variety of diverse abilities.
Jess' dog is much more than a best friend. They're part of a growing group (sbs.com.au)
From helping with the laundry to providing comfort, assistance dogs are trained to support people with physical disabilities, autism or PTSD. Rising demand has prompted one provider to race to keep up.
Bus operators jump aboard Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program (busnews.com.au)
Operators across the country are now training drivers to recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, bringing awareness to the unseen
Budapest Airport updates accessibility services (passengerterminaltoday.com)
Budapest Airport in Hungary has launched several initiatives to make traveling more pleasant and relaxing for people with hidden disabilities. For example, it has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program and created a dedicated waiting area for passengers with a high sensitivity to external stimuli.
This Ontario resident wants more transit services to adopt the sunflower pin. But what does it mean? (uk.news.yahoo.com)
Alim Nathoo has no problem telling people he's on the autism spectrum and when he did just that to a service manager on board a Via Rail train, he was relieved to be met with kindness.The 36-year-old Mississauga, Ont., resident was returning home from a trip to Windsor in August when he met Andre Bergeron-Lekman. "He asked me how I was," said Nathoo, adding that Bergeron-Lekman also helped him figure out where to put his luggage. "He said if there's anything I need, come and speak with him."
Sesame Place Philadelphia Joins Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program (travelagentcentral.com)
After becoming the first theme park in the world to be designated as a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place Philadelphia has now become the first theme park in th | The addition of the Sunflower program complements Sesame Place’s current accessibility initiatives and Certified Autism Center designation.
Navigating the Holidays with EDS (chronicpainpartners.com)
Tips for navigating the holiday season when you have EDS including travel, different diets, getting restorative rest and more.
Decoding Medical Deductions: A Chronic Illness Patient’s Guide to Navigating Healthcare-Related Expenses and Taxes (chronicpainpartners.com)
“Decoding Medical Deductions” is an invaluable resource for individuals managing chronic illnesses and navigating the complex landscape of medical expenses and taxes in the United States. This comprehensive guide provides ten top strategies and resources to effectively manage medical expenses, optimize costs, and prepare for tax filing.
A New EDS Clinic Coming to a Town Near You (Via Telehealth) (chronicpainpartners.com)
Chronic Pain Partners is excited to speak with David Jameson Harris, a former McKinsey consultant, about his latest project, a new Ehlers-Danlos syndrome clinic, hopefully offering access to expert EDS care in several states starting in February 2024. CPP's Karina Sturm spoke with David Jameson Harris about his new EDS clinic, his goals, and how patients can access care there.
Complicated - the must-watch documentary on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (chronicpainpartners.com)
A new documentary on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Complicated, will soon be released. Chronic Pain Partners was honored to preview the film, which dives deep into many of our community’s challenges.
Norris Lab Finds HEDS Gene: Kallikrein (chronicpainpartners.com)
Chronic Pain Partners is excited to share a significant breakthrough from the Norris Lab regarding hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). After a long wait, the research, spearheaded by Dr. Cortney Gensemer, identifying a genetic variant associated with hEDS has been published, pinpointing mutations in the Kallikrein gene family.
Top Ten Reasons EDS SUCKS! (chronicpainpartners.com)
The votes are in! One hundred and sixty-seven (167) of you responded to our survey about the things that SUCK about EDS. What made it into the top spot as the worst of all? Where did your dissatisfactions rank?
Clinician-Associated Trauma Series (chronicpainpartners.com)
A series of articles by Chronic Pain Partners' staff writer Kate Schultz explaining trauma concepts, discussing the clinician-associated trauma study, going deeper into the causes of clinician-associated trauma, and, lastly, suggesting efforts to help prevent and heal from clinician-associated trauma.
Research Round-Up, Edition Three (chronicpainpartners.com)
Welcome back to Research Round-up where we feature some of the latest developments in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) research. Hitch up your horse, gather ‘round the campfire, and see what we have in store for you today. ICYMI: a possible blood test for hEDS?
Overcoming Barriers With Creativity: Watch Lego Oma (chronicpainpartners.com)
Rita Ebel, the focus of the new Chronic Pain Partners (CPP) short film Lego Oma, has found one of the most innovative ways to fix inaccessibility: she builds wheelchair ramps from Lego!
Proud Stutter (chronicpainpartners.com)
Proud Stutter is a short film featuring Maya, who grew up with a stutter she believed she needed to overcome, embarking on a transformative journey of self-acceptance. Realizing that stuttering is simply another way of speaking, she creates a podcast to amplify the voices of those who share her experience. Through candid conversations, Maya creates a space where people who stutter can find strength, connection, and a voice.
POTS vs. Anxiety: The Misdiagnosis Maze (chronicpainpartners.com)
Learn how to know the difference between anxiety or panic attacks and dysautonomia or POTS symptoms so you can get correctly diagnosed and treated.
Emotions When Choosing Self-Health Over Dysfunctional Family Dynamics (chronicpainpartners.com)
A community member shares their emotions as they made the difficult decision to step-back from unhealthy family patterns to prioritize their own self health when they had EDS.
Low-Dose Naltrexone: Possible Pain Relief in a Small Package (chronicpainpartners.com)
What EDS patients should know when considering low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) as a chronic pain relief off-label treatment.
Part Six: Dear Doctor: How To Avoid Causing Clinician-Associated Trauma (chronicpainpartners.com)
Final in a series on Clinician Associated Trauma (CAT), also known as medical gaslighting, especially for EDS patients who are frequently dismissed by doctors.
New Research Study Finds Everything is Connected, As Many Patients Suspected (chronicpainpartners.com)
New hypermobile EDS research shows insurers the costly data behind unrecognized patient care.
Chronic Illness Apps: Why Use Them and Ones to Try for EDS Management (chronicpainpartners.com)
List of the best health apps for managing the complexities of chronic illness - why they're helpful and ones to try, especially with EDS.
Research News: Could a Blood Test for hEDS & HSD Be Possible? (chronicpainpartners.com)
Italian researchers publish a study with the support of the EDS Society, potentially finding a protein that could lead to a blood test for hEDS and HSD. More research is needed, but it's a hopeful new finding suggesting the two conditions are one on a spectrum.
Without Limits: Tackling Accessibility in the World of Work (linkedin.com)
October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and this episode of Get Hired with Andrew Seaman begins a special series celebrating the contributions of workers with disabilities. LinkedIn News Editor Andrew Seaman chats with disability rights activist and author Emily Ladau about how much more needs to be done to make the world of work inclusive and accessible. Their discussion dives into the real challenges that people with disabilities face in the job search and workplace — whether it’s inaccessible job applications or the need for accommodations that many employers fail to provide.
Emily Ladau Speaking Reel (youtube.com)
Emily Ladau is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant whose career began at the age of 10, when she appeared on several episodes of Sesame Street to educate children about her life with a physical disability. Her writing has been published in outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Vice, and HuffPost and her first book, Demystifying Disability, was published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in September 2021. Emily has spoken before numerous audiences, from the U.S. Department of Education to the United Nations. Central to all of Emily’s work is harnessing the power of storytelling to engage people in learning about disability.
'I really appreciate them': GRR implementing sign language boards in airport (fox17online.com)
The Gerald R. Ford Airport has recently implemented new technology to provide more access to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
True Advocacy for Dwarfism Awareness Month (rootedinrights.org)
October is Dwarfism Awareness Month. Not many people know this, but you can be forgiven for that; there are so many days and months that are now dedicated to raising awareness for certain causes. For example, October is also Down Syndrome and ADHD Awareness Month.
Crippen warns about the UK End of Life Bill (crippencartoons.com)
Disabled activists warned that a bill to allow assisted suicide for people with a terminal illness would pressure disabled people to end their lives prematurely, and that too little time had been set aside to understand its “far-reaching” implications.
B.C. judge halts woman's medically assisted death (bc.ctvnews.ca)
A B.C. judge took the extraordinary measure of preventing a woman's medically assisted death, issuing an 11th-hour court order to halt the procedure, according to documents filed over the weekend.
Deaf actor and theatre maker the first ever Welsh recipient of top education award (nation.cymru)
A Welsh actor and theatre maker has become the first ever deaf recipient of a top education award.
Theme Park Adding New 'Hidden Disability' Accommodations (disabilityscoop.com)
In a first-of-its-kind move, a popular theme park will offer a discrete way for visitors to alert staff throughout the park that they may need extra help even if their disability isn't apparent.
Disability Thinking Weekday - October 2024 Recap (disabilitythinking.substack.com)
Here’s a look back at October’s Disability Thinking Weekday links.
A Heartfelt Tribute to a Disability Rights Hero (respectability.org)
"As a disabled veteran who has navigated life with a spinal cord injury, watching “Brad Lomax: Creating Communities of Care” was a deeply moving experience."
A History “Erased”: Blind, Autistic Pianist Thomas Wiggins Spotlighted in New Docuseries (respectability.org)
Thomas Wiggins performed at the White House and earned the equivalent of $12 million in today’s money. Yet, as a Black, blind and (presumably) autistic man, this success was all too easily stolen from him.
Dianne Sandler obituary (theguardian.com)
Other lives: Play specialist determined to improve the lives of children with complex needs
Amy Poehler introduced Carol Burnett at Variety's Power of Women event in Los Angeles.
To Robert De Niro, From Someone on the Autism Spectrum (themighty.com)
Woman responds to Robert De Niro removing anti-vaccine film from Tribeca Film Festival.
Delta Air Lines, DOT update plans for adaptive wheelchair seats on future flights (msn.com)
Delta Air Lines and U.S. regulators confirm in-cabin wheelchair seats could be approved as soon as the end of 2025, but installation will take time.
Ted Evans Sets All-Deaf Lead Cast for ‘Retreat,’ XYZ Launching Groundbreaking Thriller (variety.com)
XYZ is launching Ted Evans' cult-set thriller 'Retreat' at the American Film Market
Folding a More Affordable Wheelchair (newmobility.com)
Japanese Kirigami is the inspiration for a wheelchair prototype that can be folded from a single sheet of aluminum.
How Edtech Innovations Improving Special Education? (educatingalllearners.org)
The primary advantage of Edtech innovations in special education is in the capacity to personalised learning experience using tools such as speech to text, learning applications and other learning platforms.
Disabled people in ‘extreme poverty’ in Punjab are receiving £60 wheelchairs thanks to Derby man (amoraju.com)
Disability Ambassador Dr Amo Raju has sourced equipment locally in India using donations from the UK.
Shattered by Hanif Kureishi review – picking up the pieces (theguardian.com)
The Buddha of Suburbia author’s wildly inspiring memoir of illness and defiance
Who Gives a Care?: Plans To Help the Sandwich Generation and the Growing Care Crisis (wheelieoutthere.blogspot.com)
Don’t you get nervous talking to attorneys? I do, and it’s been a nervous time for me lately.
What does Rachel Reeves' Budget mean for disabled people? (bbc.co.uk)
The Budget is done and dusted and the US elections about to start.
Launching My First Book, What’s Wrong With You? (louisehunt.co.uk)
It’s difficult to put into words just how proud I am to have completed my first book, What’s Wrong With You?, an autobiography that has been a lifelong goal of mine. From the early stages of scribbling down ideas, to seeing my story come to life on the page, every moment of this journey has been both challenging and rewarding. With the support of so many incredible people, I was finally able to celebrate this achievement at The Ridgeway Barns, just over a week after its release. Surrounded by friends, family, and supporters who have walked this journey with me, the book launch was a memory I’ll cherish forever.
Reviewed: Jamey Perry for JCPenney Adaptive Clothing Line (newmobility.com)
JCPenney has released a new line of attractive and functional apparel designed for women who use wheelchairs. The limited-time collaboration with disabled writer and athlete Jamey Perry features 18 stylish and functional pieces, including blazers, dress slacks, blouses, cocktail outfits and more. Available in women’s sizes XS-XXL, the collection ranges from $44-$99.
Connecting on AAC Research Opportunities (communicationfirst.org)
If you are a researcher or an AAC user interested in research opportunities!
Cultivating Community and Equity: Highlights from the 2024 EALA New Orleans School Study Tours (educatingalllearners.org)
This fall, the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) hosted an inspiring series of School Study Tours in New Orleans. Bringing together educators, administrators, and advocates from across the country, the three-day event aimed to showcase innovative practices in inclusive education and foster collaboration among participants. The purpose of EALA School Study Tours is to translate knowledge into action and create more equitable learning environments for students with disabilities and learning differences. With the support of the Special Education Leader Fellowship (SELF) in selecting host schools, EALA thoughtfully designed this three-day event to ensure a meaningful and impactful experience for all participants.
Chancellor Reeves Unveils Autumn Budget: Key Impacts on Blind and Partially Sighted People (pocklington.org.uk)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves today presented her first Autumn Budget for the new Government, outlining significant investments and reforms across various sectors. Here are the key highlights affecting blind and partially sighted individuals.
Is this the budget Britain needs? Our panel responds (theguardian.com)
In Labour’s first budget for almost 15 years, Rachel Reeves has unveiled tax rises and promises of investment in public services
Accessibility Expert: Ed Tech Needs Field Testing, Observation (educatingalllearners.org)
Elizabeth Barker, an accessibility manager at Khan Academy, shares her insights on how ed-tech developers can make their tools user-friendly for everyone, including the need for field testing, observation and feedback.
Bridging Cultures: Inclusive AI and Intercultural Dialogue (enil.eu)
The third week of October I had the privilege of attending the 8th Arab-European Youth Forum. The event, jointly organised by the Council of Europe Youth Department, League of Arab States and Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sport, took place at Luxor’s International Youth City in Egypt, had he theme
Fitness with Friends: Marvel Avengers Storytime Fitness (fun4thedisabled.com)
Join Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America in this epic training session designed to make you stronger, faster, and ready to save the world! Led by the God of Thunder himself, this workout includes dynamic warm-ups, strength-building exercises, and plenty of superhero banter.
Embracing Society 5.0 for Independent Living (enil.eu)
Since July this year, I have been involved in ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS) Capacity Buildings. It all started with an online phase in July, followed by in-person trainings in China or Hungary, and it will end with multiplier projects created by participants, which will be done by the end of this year. I was selected to be part of the ASEFYLS 2024 Budapest cohort, and attended the “Asia-Europe Training Seminar on Youth, Digitalisation and Intercultural Dialogue” this October.
Lower Laurel Farm: Redefining Accessible Luxury And Family-Friendly Holidays (criplife.co.uk)
Lower Laurel Farm set standards for affordable, accessible holiday accommodation, blending accessibility with taste and luxury.
DisabledPreneurs: Empowering Disabled Entrepreneurs To Succeed And Thrive In Business (criplife.co.uk)
DisabledPreneurs is a free, non-profit business directory aimed at empowering and supporting disabled founders and business owners. Here, we share why a disabled business directory is needed, how the platform was formed, and how it can benefit your business.
UK Autumn Budget 2024: Key Announcements For Disability, Healthcare And Special Needs Support (criplife.co.uk)
The UK Autumn Budget 2024 has introduced several significant changes and allocations to improve healthcare, disability benefits and support for those with special needs.
Opinion | Pete Buttigieg defends the dignity of disabled airline passengers (msnbc.com)
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the fine for the airlines is 25 times larger than the department has ever imposed for disability-related violations.
Sammie Bryant - Glad, Glad, So Glad (youtube.com)
Known as the "Little Lady With the Big Voice". Sammie Bryant was one of the great soloists out of Rev. C.L. Franklin's New Bethel Baptist Church. She traveled extensively across the country with Rev. Franklin's Gospel Tours/Crusades. Here she sings "Glad, Glad, So Glad". You can see a 13 year old Lady Soul sitting right behind Sammie.
Presenting AXIS Dance Company (axisdance.org)
For over 35 years, AXIS has toured innovative productions with high-profile choreographers that redefine dance and disability across the country and world.
Wife of deaf man attacked by Phoenix police demands answers in 911 calls (azfamily.com)
New 911 calls were released in connection to a deaf, disabled man being repeatedly punched by Phoenix police officers during the summer.
Glam Canes: O&M that’s functional and fashionable (blindnewworld.org)
Arthur Gwynne, founder of Glam Canes and manager to blind recording artist Lachi, makes canes that sparkle with pride, glamour and confidence.
European Commission announces 2025 Access City Award finalists (disabilityinsider.com)
Borås (Sweden), Cartagena (Spain), Nuremberg (Germany) and Vienna (Austria), have been selected as finalists for the 2025 Access City Award. These cities have demonstrated best practices and highlighted their commitment to ensure accessibility to urban life for persons with disabilities, including for built environment and public spaces, public transport, facilities and services, as well as information and communication technologies.
U of T Grad finds passion in accessibility research and design (disabilityinsider.com)
The first in his family to attend university, Alexander Parent felt like he had already exceeded expectations before pursuing a master’s degree in user experience design at the University of Toronto – then he fell in love with his research.
Special Education—Practical Tips From New Cases (educatingalllearners.org)
This article was written and Published by jdsupra— October 11th, 2024 As school administrators know, there are always interesting updates for complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Recent cases provide important new information for K-12 school teams to improve their special education practices to best serve students with disabilities.
The Top 5 Ways Project 2025 Would Hurt Disabled People (americanprogress.org)
Project 2025 would directly harm disabled people by removing basic civil rights protections and making it harder for these individuals to access necessary resources and services.
Post #18: The Platform Comparison ⚖ (gaelynnlea.substack.com)
Why this election matters to me as a disabled American.
Disabled Artist Claire Cunningham Premieres New Show Blending Dance And Song (criplife.co.uk)
Claire Cunningham, one of the UK’s most acclaimed and internationally renowned disabled artists, presents the UK premiere of her new solo Songs of the Wayfarer in London this December.
Anti-ableism demands your anger (lucywebster.substack.com)
Hello, Things have been difficult recently and, except for with a very select group of people, I’m not ready to talk about why.
Disability, sex and relationships: sex education (disabilityhorizons.com)
I have just come out of college, am still a virgin and very frustrated. Neither school nor college provided us blind students any sex education at all, and both forbade us from being sexy together. The lucky ones enjoyed each other but it’s difficult to sneak around when you cannot see.
Reducing Digital Accessibility Litigation Risk (buttondown.com)
Let’s talk about something every business owner, developer, and content creator should (but usually doesn’t) have at the forefront of their mind—disabled customers and accessibility. Specifically, how to avoid getting hit with a lawsuit because your website, app, or product is inaccessible. Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a legal requirement, and more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. But if your organization doesn’t buy into the “right thing to do” argument, make things accessible so you avoid the financial and reputational damage of a lawsuit. Here are some key strategies to keep your organization on the right side of the law.
DEI Should Include Neurodiversity. Here’s Why (forbes.com)
It’s time to fully embrace neurodiversity.
Teri Garr — Before Ms And After (abilitymagazine.com)
Many people would attribute Teri Garr’s success to sweat, dedication and raw talent. But she gives top billing to a Beverly Hills numerologist, who convinced her to alter her name. “It was the best $35 I ever spent,” the actress and public speaker declares in the pages of her memoir, Speedbumps. There, the artist formerly known as Terry Ann Garr, dishes dizzying details of her start in Hollywood, from her commercials for Doritos to dancing roles on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, to her part in Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Conversation, which earned her the Palm d’Or nomination at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival. She followed that with Young Frankenstein, Oh, God! and One from the Heart, before hitting the jackpot with Tootsie, where her part as the spurned girlfriend, Sandy, led to an Academy Award nomination.
The Last Day of Down syndrome Awareness Month (meriahnichols.com)
I meant to post. Really, I did. I meant to post about it, but between my 4 jobs, 3 kids, 6 cats, 1 dog and ADHD in a brain tree, I didn’t. But it was there, simmering in the recess of my mind, asking for a way out.
Memorize a Go-To Response for Offensive Jokes, and Other Actions for Allies (betterallies.medium.com)
Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally.
A Spark of Hope Short Film: Short Film That Illuminates the Power of Caregiving and Inclusivity (youtube.com)
This Diwali, as we light diyas and celebrate with family and friends, this special short film reminds us of the powerful, unwavering bond that family can bring to those in need of extra care and support. "A Spark of Hope," directed by award-winning filmmaker Dr. Kushal Dasgupta, tells the heart-touching story of our National Awardee, Dr. Sai Kaustuv Dasgupta, and his family's journey to rekindle joy and hope in their lives. This film beautifully portrays the power of family support and the profound impact of caregiving for children with special needs. May this film inspire many more parents and caregivers on their journeys. May all Divyangjan receive the sparks of Hope!
Human...kind?! (teawithhb.substack.com)
'Read this' - Xander
A Year of Reframing Disability (reframingdisability.substack.com)
The past year, summed up, and training and webinar announcements
Designing with Disability Pride: Professor Sugandha Gupta & Haben Girma at Parsons School of Fashion (youtube.com)
If you’ve ever felt isolated and wondered how to build community, if you’re frustrated with ableism and dream of designing in ways that no longer marginalize people, then you’ll appreciate this video from the Parsons School of Fashion. Parsons’ Disabled Fashion Student Program hosted this powerful conversation on October 16, 2024 at The New School in New York City, you can watch/listen to the video recording here or read the transcript below.
Inclusive Dental Clinic An 'Oasis' For Patients With Disabilities (disabilityscoop.com)
With wider doors and hallways, special equipment, a desensitization room and more, the clinic offers people with a wide range of disabilities a place where "patients dictate the pace of the work."
European models of Personal Assistance Cooperatives (enil.eu)
Taking place as part of Self Directed Support Scotland’s Annual General Meeting 2024, this webinar will be delivered by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL).
Coblis — Color Blindness Simulator (color-blindness.com)
If you are not suffering from a color vision deficiency it is very hard to imagine how it looks like to be colorblind. The Color BLIndness Simulator can close this gap for you. Just play around with it and get a feeling of how it is to have a color vision handicap.
TV BRA: Empowering Disabled Journalists and Making News Accessible (assistivetechnologyblog.com)
Discover TV BRA, Norway's innovative news station with a unique approach: all reporters have autism or learning disabilities.
Episode 125: Friendship - The Accessible Stall (theaccessiblestall.com)
this is a kyle episode lovelies. we talk about friendship. also we’re SO back Click here for a transcript for this episode. xoxo, emily and kyle
DanceSyndrome Invited to International Inclusion Congress (dancesyndrome.co.uk)
We have been invited to join an international panel at the 2nd National Congress on Entrepreneurship & Disability that ONCE Foundation is organising joint to the CERMI (a Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities) and ASEMDIS (an association of entrepreneurs with disabilities in Spain). The congress will take place in Bilbao on the 14th and 15th November 2024.