The pandemic's influence on accessibility
I’m Raul Krauthausen the founder of SOZIALHELD*INNEN, an NPO and consultancy from Germany, focussing on Disability Mainstreaming. With this newsletter, I share hand-picked links from around the world.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward this email to your friends! 🙏
Questions? Tips? Suggestions?
Thank you,
Raul
I wrote a book (in german)
In this book, I raise fundamental questions about inclusion in Germany. In conversations with experts, we sketch out an idea of how inclusion can work together at all levels.
The first readings are already scheduled and I can't wait to finally get back into dialogue with you!
Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation
Testing Abilitease Gripping Aids as a C5-6 Quad (newmobility.com)
Sometimes it takes a quad to know what a quad needs. Mark Fuglevand, an incomplete C6 quadriplegic, founded Abilitease Adaptive with the goal of making products to help people with disabilities.
Coaster LIVE! (inclusionrules.com)
Inclusion Rules Coaster LIVE! Paula Kluth reads her book Coaster. Visit Inclusion Rules for inclusive education resources.
Wheelchair user left to crawl off plane (www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org)
Irishman Adrian Keogh was told help would take an hour to arrive after his flight landed in Sweden.
Brits urged to wear face masks again as Arcturus Covid strain spreads across UK (mirror.co.uk)
The continuous spread of the super-infectious Covid variant Arcturus means the British public should revert to once again using face masks to protect themselves on public transport, it's been claimed.
Creating a culture of accessibility in your organization (accessibility.com)
Committing an organization to meet the digital accessibility needs of people with disabilities might require a shift in the organization’s culture.
Accessibility Lessons: Context-Sensitive Text Alternatives (equalentry.com)
Equal Entry conducts many audits. In doing the work, we make suggestions on how to make something accessible and improve the user experience. We want to share what we’ve discovered in our work to help people understand accessibility guidelines better. We’ll share them here.
WPDS - Accessibility | Resources (build.washingtonpost.com)
Accessibility resources, including links to documentation, guides, and more.
Use the dialog element (reasonably) (scottohara.me)
Today, the HTML specification landed a very important change to the dialog element. One that resolves a multi-year discussion on how the dialog element should handle initial focus.
Now More Than Ever, Government Vendors Need an Agile Approach to Accessibility (levelaccess.com)
Meeting tightening government accessibility regulations is crucial for any company that does business with the state or federal government.
How Indie Studios Are Pioneering Accessible Game Design (wired.com)
Smaller shops prove that you don't need a AAA budget to create games for everyone.
The Equitable AI Playbook (peatworks.org)
The Equitable AI Playbook is a blueprint that can help your organization foster inclusion as you procure, develop or implement artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in your workplace.
APG support tables - why they matter (deque.com)
Assistive Technology Support tables are here in the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide (APG). Here's why they matter.
An Introduction to the Reduced Motion Media Query (css-tricks.com)
The open web’s success is built on interoperable technologies. The ability to control animation now exists alongside important features such as zooming content, installing extensions, enabling high contrast display, loading custom stylesheets, or disabling JavaScript.
Writing Accessibility Tests with Espresso (dev.to)
Espresso is Android's UI testing library that allows for simple and concise test creation. Even better, it comes with its own accessibility testing library that lets developers add in checks for accessibility issues in the content they create.
Solving the CSS layout and source order disconnect (developer.chrome.com)
Your feedback is wanted on a proposed solution for the problem of layout methods arranging items in an order that is disconnected from the source of the document.
Foundations: accessible names and descriptions (tetralogical.com)
Accessibility consultancy with a focus on inclusion. We can help you with knowledge, experience, strategy, assessments, and development.
The Potentially Dangerous Non-Accessibility Of Cookie Notices (smashingmagazine.com)
In this piece, a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) auditor shares some cookie banner error patterns that can massively hurt a page’s overall conformance. Let’s explore what to look out for with this omnipresent piece of the web interface.
Sophie Morgan Launches Rights On Flights Campaign (criplife.co.uk)
TV presenter and disability activist Sophie Morgan has launched a new campaign – Rights On Flights - where she will be lobbying the government to implement several imperative legislative changes within the aviation industry in the UK for disabled passengers.
Crips Are Dying to Save You Money With Easy Weeknight Euthanasia Policy (talesfromthecrip.org)
The article satirizes a program called "Deathstyles of the Rich and Abled," which promotes euthanasia as a classy experience using tools like the Sarco Death Pod. The text also highlights the use of ableist public policies in death cultures and the benefits of using them. The article includes a spoof magazine cover called Costs Illustrated featuring the Sarco.
A Profound Transformation – The Power of Moments (quirkyquad.com)
Something happened to me in Costa Rica. For the first time in 13 years since breaking my neck in 2010 I took a vacation for my 40th birthday with 6 incredible women who helped make this trip possible. I went on an adventure trip as I had become so accustomed to prior to my accident. I love the rain forest and I love the water. I found a beautiful accessible country with an incredible accessible travel agency to make my dreams come true.
"Learn to Live With the Pain" Is That Really the Best Advice From a Doctor? (despitepain.com)
Chronic pain is difficult to live with. We have to learn to live with the pain but we also need support, empathy and a treatment plan.
For Wheelchair Users, Finding Attendants Has Gone From Crisis to Catastrophe (newmobility.com)
Susie Angel and Sandy White were a dynamic duo in Austin, Texas. Angel was an accomplished disability advocate, editor, organizer and dancer; White was her best friend and personal care aide who helped Angel and her life partner, Juan Munoz — both wheelchair users with cerebral palsy — stay healthy and active in their own home. “We had an awesome relationship,” Munoz says.
Simple Pleasures (newmobility.com)
On my list of accomplishments, reading a novel for two hours before going to sleep is probably not going to be the one that cements my legacy as an inspiring, brave — dare I say — heroic quad in the eyes of the masses. In fact, if I were to brag about doing so to someone who doesn’t understand what disabled life is like, there’s a good chance it would re-enforce common stereotypes that we all live sad, lonely lives.
Baby on Board: Behind the First Year of Parenting as a High-Level Quadriplegic (newmobility.com)
New quad parents discuss handling traditional parenting roles with a newborn baby.
Wheelchair-Using Teachers Give the Next Generation a More Accurate View of Disability (newmobility.com)
Wheelchair-using teachers talk about the challenges and rewards of the profession.
If Labor bulldozes ahead with NDIS cuts that hurt disabled people, we will fight against it (theguardian.com)
The disability community feels blindsided by the government’s announcement of a growth cap on the scheme. We need to be included in decisions that affect us.
BAPS Award.... Winner! (stephstwogirls.co.uk)
Winning an award for blogging about SEND and PDA.
Doing activism my way (carlyfindlay.com.au)
I wrote this for (the now defunct) Feminist Writers Festival blog, back in 2018, as I was writing my memoir, Say Hello. I was incredibly scared to publish this piece even, with words mulling in my …
10 Ways to Support a Partner Living With UC (themighty.com)
When we think of a care team, who comes to mind? Doctors, therapists, phlebotomists, gastroenterologists.
Let's Bust These 6 Myths about Ulcerative Colitis (themighty.com)
I know what you’re thinking: you’ve read many, many articles with a similar title. The truth is, not only are there so many misconceptions about life with ulcer.
Netflix Sets a High Bar for Inclusion – and Ensures Disability is Part of the Conversation (respectability.org)
While the stats show that more work needs to be done, the mere fact that this study has published this data shows Netflix’s desire to be fully inclusive.
How to Prep the Personal Information Flip Books & Forms (simplyspecialed.com)
Do you teach life skills or personal safety? Do you love to save time? Then you need the Personal Information Flip Books and Forms!
How to Prep the Simple Sensory Self-Regulation Toolkit (simplyspecialed.com)
Are you struggling to find ways to support students who have difficulty with self-regulation? Check out this resource for great visuals!
Beauty in the broken pieces – TBI, epilepsy and ADHD with Kate Wallinga (sites.libsyn.com)
Content note: This episode describes instances of medical trauma and mental health crises, and mentions violence and death. Kate Wallinga is a forensic psychologist and crisis clinician by training, and currently hosts the podcast “Ignorance Was Bliss,” which has surpassed 1 million downloads. Kate has ADHD, epilepsy, and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after having a near-death experience in childbirth and a grand mal seizure.
AbilityNet provides digital aid to Ukrainian refugees in United Way (abilitynet.org.uk)
AbilityNet has been taking part in a project alongside United Way and The Internet Society, to provide nearly 100 HP laptops to Ukrainian refugees currently living in the UK.
It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure review – a darkly comic satire on disability (theguardian.com)
This debut from disability-led theatre company FlawBored is not afraid to make us squirm as it skewers virtue signalling and corporate buzzwords
Government urged to balance sustainability with continued disability services (disabilityinsider.com)
National Disability Services (NDS), the peak body for disability service providers, has welcomed the Federal Government’s focus on ensuring the NDIS is sustainable following the National Cabinet announcement on April 28 of an NDIS Financial Sustainability Framework, however cautioned that the scheme must still have the capacity to deliver the services that people with disability need.
Preserving accessibility of disability support: a crucial priority (disabilityinsider.com)
After announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on April 28, regarding the reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), People with Disability Australia (PWDA) want to assure people with disability that we’ll be seeking more clarity about announcement on behalf of all people with disability in Australia.
Educating All Learners: How Might We Better Respond to Learning Disabilities (educatingalllearners.org)
On this Getting Smart Town Hall we are joined by Erin Mote from Educating All Learners Alliance and Karla Phillips-Krivickas from Think Inclusion to discuss some of the core challenges facing learners with disabilities, some of the most pressing topics circling the learning disability field and to highlight exemplars who are responding well to these pressures and challenges.
Fairfax County Public Schools Hires ‘First-in-Nation’ Neurodiversity Specialist (educatingalllearners.org)
Fairfax County Public Schools added three specialists to its roster in an effort to better meet the needs of neurodivergent students. One of the new hires, Kristen Haynor, “is believed to be the first Neurodiversity Specialist in a U.S. K-12 public schools setting,” the system said in a Wednesday announcement.
A movement brings community, visibility to neurodiversity at Cornell (educatingalllearners.org)
For her master’s project in archeology at Cornell, Carol Anne Barsody M.A. ’23 assembled and led a large interdisciplinary team of researchers to investigate and solve the mystery of a mummified bird that had been kept in Cornell’s archives for decades, a project which required speaking and collaborating with dozens of specialists from across departments and from outside Cornell.
Let’s Bust These 5 Myths About Tardive Dyskinesia (themighty.com)
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological movement disorder that is caused by prolonged use of a class of drugs called dopamine receptor blockers. Dopamine receptors are
What New Research on Behçet’s Tells Us About This Rare Disease (themighty.com)
"I hope we can bring awareness to more people and fight this insidious illness with information."
Paralympic medalist Jamal Hill to visit San Diego schools to spread disability awareness (kusi.com)
When Jamal Hill made it onto the Team USA Paralympic swimming roster in 2018, he knew that he wanted to offer the world more than just a view of him wining medals and personal accolades. As he reflected on his own childhood experiences and how few role models he had in the sport that looked like him, he knew that his career had already begun to embody the phrase “Representation matters” for youth around the world, but how could he increase the opportunity for others? Jamal decided the best way to use his expertise, skills, and platform to truly serve others was by teach one million people to swim around the world beginning with his home city of Los Angeles.
Mesa, Ariz., is the world’s first autism-certified city. A mom and her son find out what that means (theglobeandmail.com)
It could have sparked a meltdown, landing in a strange city and driving a child who needs routine and predictability to a Sonoran Desert park full of scorpions, black widow spiders and rattlesnakes for a full moon hike. But my 10-year-old son, Charlie, took an instant liking to Arizona’s Lost Dutchman State Park, probably because of the philosophical storytelling of ranger Jackie Vallejos, and the feeling of anonymity that came with joining 40 strangers to explore the unfamiliar landscape.
Central Florida artist to bring feature film celebrating disability to big screen (clickorlando.com)
Central Florida filmmaker Robin Hofmann is excited to bring a feature-length production celebrating disability to the big screen.
Mental health as a disability - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday (newsday.co.tt)
WHEN YOU think of a disability, what do you tend to think? Blindness or vision impairment, deafness and immobile body parts? Oftentimes when we think of a disability we think of a physical disability. However, there are many types of disabilities that are not physical, such as mental health conditions, health conditions or an intellectual disability. In today’s column, we focus on mental health.
Are disability benefits actually enough to live on? (benefitspro.com)
Using 2022 data from the Social Security Administration, Atticus researchers found disability benefits are rarely enough to cover even half of someone’s cost of living.
Poignant goodbye to Inverness disability rights campaigner (inverness-courier.co.uk)
The funeral of an Inverness biker and disability rights campaigner has taken place today.
EnChroma Glasses Help Color Blind Guests Experience Museum's Many Shades (nordicmuseum.org)
As a participant in Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience, the National Nordic Museum is pleased to offer EnChroma color blind glasses so people with red-green color blindness can experience the vibrancy of Tróndur Patursson's glass birds in the Fjord Hall as well as other artworks throughout the Museum.
Report Finds Scant Funding for Disability Rights and Social Justice — and Points the Way Forward (insidephilanthropy.com)
A study commissioned by the Disability & Philanthropy Forum is a must-read for funders aiming to drive social justice for disabled people and address complex and overlapping issues of racial, gender and other inequities.
'Priceless' loss of dignity: Traveler lost independence when airline damaged wheelchair (eu.usatoday.com)
Emily Voorde said airlines need to hold their workers more accountable and boost training to address mobility device damages for disabled travelers.
Jordyn Zimmerman is redefining communication as a nonspeaking advocate for disability rights (19thnews.org)
Autism Acceptance Month “should be about listening to the various voices that make up our community, disrupting ableism and systems of oppression and calling for action,” she said.
What's the Big Idea? - A Destination Imagination Podcast (whatsthebigidea.podbean.com)
This week, we speak with Oaklee Thiele, artist and disability activist. Oaklee tells us about her creative process as an artist, including how she adapts her artistic procedures to meet her own access needs. She also describes the origin of the My Dearest Friends project, which provides a creative platform for disabled people to share their stories, and the #NothingSpecial campaign, which advocates for disability rights in education.
Thousands in hospital with COVID-19 amid concern over long-term conditions (edenmagnet.com.au)
Aged care facilities continue to battle hundreds of active outbreaks.
A 'full body orgasm' at the L.A. Phil? Witnesses offer conflicting accounts (latimes.com)
Multiple people reported hearing someone 'orgasm' during the L.A. Philharmonic's performance of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony on Friday. It's not clear what happened.
How Food Inflation Adds to the Burdens Disabled People Carry (civileats.com)
The dramatic increase in food prices and the end of SNAP benefits are taking a toll on people with disabilities.
A church is canceling people's medical debt for pennies on the dollar. It wants others to join in (edition.cnn.com)
US churches are coming together to create outsized relief for debt-strapped members of their communities. Church leaders say debt forgiveness is a modern, but very effective way to do good -- and it has a firm basis in scripture.
Long Covid can be debilitating, even for healthy kids (edition.cnn.com)
Jessica Rosario loved watching her 15-year-old, Eliana, play flute with the rest of the marching band during Open Door Christian School football games. But after the homecoming game in 2021, she got an alarming call from the Ohio school's band director.
ASAN Condemns Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care (autisticadvocacy.org)
The Missouri regulation discriminates based on disability. It will create barriers to gender affirming care for autistic people and people with mental health disabilities. The regulation requires that medical practitioners do not provide gender affirming care to patients until they have received a “comprehensive screening to determine whether the patient has autism[.]”
A 'Hidden Curriculum' in Med School Trains Doctors to Have Less Empathy (sciencealert.com)
A lack of empathy in healthcare can be disastrous.
Confiscated wheelchairs, dangerous bunks, no sign language: San Diego County jails are perilous for people with disabilities, suit says (sandiegouniontribune.com)
'Six deputies came up and forcibly removed me from my wheelchair, lifting me out of it, and put me in a vehicle to send me to George Bailey,' one man says.
Deadly fungus spreading in U.S. with approximately 60% mortality (mynorthwest.com)
The CDC has issued a warning about a deadly drug-resistant strain of fungus, Candida auris, spreading in healthcare facilities in the U.S.
Ableism in the academy (universityaffairs.ca)
Disabled scholars say they often rely on ad hoc agreements to get the accommodations they need to do their jobs. The lack of formal recognition has left many feeling unprotected and unwelcome in the academic workplace.
Removing Obstacles for Disabled Workers Would Strengthen the U.S. Labor Market (americanprogress.org)
Although disabled people saw increased employment rates in 2021, their rates continue to lag significantly behind those of their nondisabled counterparts, signaling the urgent need for policy reform across federal and state governments.
COVID will eventually evade Paxlovid, former White House advisor Deborah Birx says (fortune.com)
She worries that the virus's evolution is outpacing U.S. development of vaccines and treatments—and that it could soon render popular antiviral Paxlovid useless.
Shouldn't surprise society that physically disabled women are good mums too (thenationalnews.com)
Society too often judges women for wanting to experience parenthood on the basis of their limitations.
Airlines are failing on access, regulator concludes after four-year review (disabilitynewsservice.com)
A lengthy review by the aviation regulator has exposed numerous failings by airlines operating in the UK in how they treat their disabled passengers.
The CDC Lacks a Rural Focus. Researchers Hope a Newly Funded Office Will Help (kffhealthnews.org)
In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published multiple reports analyzing health disparities between rural and urban populations.
The Changing Reality of Disability in America: Judy Heumann Interview (youtube.com)
IHCD Producer PJ Moynihan conducted an interview with Judy Heumann during the early days of the pandemic in 2020 for the documentary film, “The Changing Reality of Disability in America.” IHCD is releasing the interview in full as testimony to Judy’s life as an advocate and leader in the disability rights movement.
ABLED (youtube.com)
Setting its focus on double-leg blade sprinter Blake Leeper, who aspires to be in the Olympics, this is an inquiry into the deliberate bias against disabled athletes who want to compete against the “able-bodied” and the dubious science used to bar them from their dreams.
Dubai disability campaigner left stranded after airline loses wheelchair (thenationalnews.com)
Swiss International Airlines covers costs of damaged wheelchair lost on Dubai to London flight.
Disabilities and politics: Ireland takes a step forward (euronews.com)
A paradigm shift is underway in Europe, as more EU countries include people with disabilities in politics. But some are lagging behind.
How Realistic Is a Possible Treatment for Hypermobile EDS? (painnewsnetwork.org)
By Crystal Lindell, PNN Columnist Ever since I was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) back in 2018, I’ve spent countless hours contemplating what my life would be like if there was an effective treatment.
Zebra Mamas: Parenting a Child With EDS (chronicpainpartners.com)
The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a collection of heritable connective tissue disorders* that affect many organ systems and often come with several other conditions. It's a genetic condition, which means many families manage the lives of several zebras simultaneously. Living with complex conditions such as EDS as an adult is challenging at the best of times, but parenting children with EDS can be heartbreakingly hard.
Pey Carter and Daughter Abigail Speak About Their EDS Children's Book (chronicpainpartners.com)
Pey Carter, a public speaker and author from Eau Claire, WI, and their daughter, Abigail Bailey, have a children's book about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in the works: Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Story. In addition, Pey just finished a Kickstarter for an Ehlers-Danlos coloring book and is working on a memoir of their own. In between literary pursuits, Pey spends the majority of their time speaking and spreading awareness about a variety of issues that they are passionate about. Pey and Abigail took a little time to speak with one of our volunteers, Kate Schultz, in mid-April about their children's book and Pey's other advocacy projects.
How To Evaluate The Quality Of EDS Research Papers: A Conversation With Markus Bohn, PhD (chronicpainpartners.com)
Over the last few years, the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes have become more than just an afterthought for many researchers across the globe. However, with the growing number of academic papers published, it also got much harder for patients to evaluate the quality of those papers. Moreover, it's incredibly challenging for people who aren't scientists to tell apart the different types of publications - is it a review or a hypothesis? Does it present actual research data? For EDS Awareness month, writer and advocate Jan Groh (Oh TWIST) speaks with Markus-Frederik Bohn, PhD and associate professor at DTU in Denmark, to determine how patients can evaluate academic publications. Bohn shares some simple steps we all can take to understand what we are reading.
Win Your EDS Disability Claim: A Zebra's 12-Step Basic Training Bootcamp (chronicpainpartners.com)
Empower yourself for the challenging battle for disability support with these boot camp-style power tips. You’ve earned it, warrior! Here are a few key lessons learned from the scars of battle as patients with EDS and how to prepare yourself and your troops. Disability is an enormous topic with many nuances, so do your research.
Chronic Illness and Disability: Key Differences and How to Get Support (cnet.com)
Learn when a chronic illness becomes a disability and what to do next.
CAREOKE (edsshare.com)
Join the May EDS awareness social challenge - Care-e-oke to sing out loud for zebras.
Email your MP about the Disability Price Tag 💰 (campaigns.scope.org.uk)
Life costs £975 a month more for disabled households. Tell your MP to act.
Feeling the music (prazy.substack.com)
How a very random incident changed a deaf guy's perspective towards the world's universal language - music.
Flying while disabled (lucywebster.substack.com)
A tale of pre-holiday anxiety
Uk wales 65348813 (bbc.com)
#STRONG Season 4 - Meet Meryl (youtube.com)
Meryl Evans is an accessibility and digital marketing consultant and author. As a marketing professional, Meryl knew the importance of video and shied away from making them because of her accent that hails from nowhere accessible by travel. She received such a tremendous response to her videos that she's now on a passionate path to create a more accessible world.
Talking Deafness & Accessibility With Meryl Evans (linkedin.com)
Deafness and accessibility.
Meryl Evans CPACC, Professional Speaker inc. TEDx,Top LinkedIn Voice (DEAF) (open.spotify.com)
Listen to this episode from The Thirteen Hour Life Coach Podcast on Spotify. Hello and Welcome to Season 9, Episode 1 of The Thirteen-Hour Life Coach Podcast.Today is the 100th podcast episode. Today I speak with Meryl Evans, CPACC, who is a professional speaker, trainer, author, and accessibility marketing consultant who was born deaf.
Disability & Accessibility Inclusion (soundcloud.com)
Want to learn more about the impact of identifying with a disability? This week we are joined by Meryl Evans, a professional speaker and trainer, digital marketing pro, and author of Brilliant Outlook Pocketbook and the co-author of Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites. She has done a TEDx Talk and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and has the honor of being included as one of the 12 Top LinkedIn Voices for Accessibility Advocacy.
Accessibility Toolkit for Museum Digital Engagement - Association of Science and Technology Centers (astc.org)
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many science centers and museums to start, expand, or accelerate actions on their online presence and digital programming. As more and more virtual offerings are created, the discussion around digital accessibility has rightfully gained momentum.
A Journey of Progress Over Perfection: Meryl Evans on Creating a More Inclusive World through 360-Degree Accessibility (qrcaviews.org)
Zoë Billington interviews Meryl Evans, CPACC, a professional speaker and trainer on accessibility and inclusion with a focus on creating accessible communications for people with disabilities. Readers will come away with concrete suggestions for taking a more inclusive approach to their own day-to-day work and communications.
Redefining Accessibility Advocacy: Progress Over Perfection (meryl.net)
Here's an effective way to speak up about accessibility problems using the progress over perfection approach to communication.
SXSW 2023: Watercooler to Headset? The Future of Workplaces (youtube.com)
As immersive technology continues to grow and develop, it will play a significant role in transforming the way we work and live. Hear from experts in the field about the potential of XR technology and its impact on various industries, as well as the strides being made towards creating a more inclusive and accessible future for all.
The pandemic's influence on accessibility (youtube.com)
While no one wanted a pandemic to happen, Meryl Evans points out that history has shown events like this can lead to changes for the better. For her, the rise of automatic captions on video calls provided a new way to communicate, socialize, and most importantly, connect. Meryl Evans is an accessibility and digital marketing consultant and author. As a marketing professional, Meryl knew the importance of video and shied away from making them because of her accent that hails from nowhere accessible by travel. She received such a tremendous response to her videos that she's now on a passionate path to create a more accessible world.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day: A Fireside Chat (eventbrite.com)
In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, come learn from subject matter experts about digital accessibility and disability inclusion!
"Things have just gotten worse" (helpage.org)
The impact of the global food, fuel and finance crisis on older people.
“Don’t We Already Do Inclusion?” Planning Tool (inclusionrules.com)
Inclusion Rules | Download this free inclusion planning tool from InclusionRules.com from the book "Don't We Already Do Inclusion?"
Brushed Aside: By Denise Sherer Jacobson (respectability.org)
Denise Sherer Jacobson reflects on going to sleep-away camp as a child and discovering her power at Camp Jened.
The Real Magic of Camp: by Jennifer Phillips, President and CEO of Keshet (respectability.org)
"If non-disabled children interact with their disabled peers in camp, they will learn that disability is just part of the human experience throughout the entire lifespan."
Tips for Mental Health Support at Faith-Based Summer Camps (respectability.org)
For both campers and staff, it is important to create an environment that supports everyone’s physical and emotional needs.
Faith Inclusion and Belonging Newsletter Intro for April 28, 2023 (respectability.org)
"Let us dare to imagine how the world will transform when disabled people experience full inclusion and belonging in faith-based summer camps."
New Treatment For Pancreatic Cancer—The Most Lethal Of Cancers—Offers Hope (forbes.com)
“I’ve never been more hopeful about the possibility of improving the survival rate for this disease,” said researcher Sana Karam, who noted the animal study could change the way doctors treat the condition in the “near future.”
Your Couch Is Probably Toxic. The Furniture Industry Is Finally Dealing With It. (forbes.com)
The supply chain is scrambling to rid itself of ‘forever chemicals’ before restrictions take effect in California and other states.
NEA partners with the Ford Foundation to advance disability rights on a journey towards justice (nea.org)
The National Education Association is launching a new initiative in partnership with the Ford Foundation’s U.S. Disability Rights program to raise awareness and work to eliminate the many forms of structural discrimination that impact individuals with disabilities.
Website Accessibility Overlays Are Selling Brands a Lie (lavantconsultinginc.com)
Blind communities suffer when websites are not accessible. Website accessibility overlays are bad, only putting a Band-Aid on the situation.
Your Couch Is Probably Toxic. The Furniture Industry Is Finally Dealing With It. (forbes.com)
The supply chain is scrambling to rid itself of ‘forever chemicals’ before restrictions take effect in California and other states.
New Treatment For Pancreatic Cancer—The Most Lethal Of Cancers—Offers Hope (forbes.com)
“I’ve never been more hopeful about the possibility of improving the survival rate for this disease,” said researcher Sana Karam, who noted the animal study could change the way doctors treat the condition in the “near future.”
Innovations in Accessible Comics for blind & low vision readers Symposium (sfsu.zoom.us)
The Program in Visual Impairments, Comic Studies & The Longmore Institute on Disability Present: Innovations in Accessible Comics for blind & low vision readers. A conversation with the prizewinners of the Accessible Comics Collective design competition!
‘Arcturus’ COVID variant shows threat of new wave of death, warns WHO (news.yahoo.com)
The leader of the World Health Organization has warned coronavirus is still capable of causing mass death as the latest Omicron subvariant - XBB.1.16, known as “Arcturus” - circulates.
Disabled Lives Are An Afterthought During School Shootings. But Why? (huffpost.com)
Many schools have policies that leave behind vulnerable students and staff in the event of mass shootings, fires or other disasters.
Mattel launches first Barbie with Down syndrome to 'counter social stigma' (msn.com)
Mattel debuted its first Barbie with Down syndrome, the latest in the toymaker's efforts to create more diverse and inclusive versions of its iconic doll.
Reframing Fashion: British Vogue Celebrates Disabled Talent in Historic New Edition (tiltingthelens.com)
Fashion has historically tended to overlook certain groups or communities, and certainly Disabled people are no strangers to exclusion within the industry.
Accessible Education For Disabled Creatives Is More Important Than Ever (www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org)
The creative industries must evolve past the obsolete recruitment practices that prioritize physical endurance over other essential skills for entry-level positions. It is time to revolutionize the way we think about “breaking into” in the industry.
Make everyday life more accessible with RampNOW (youtube.com)
Stair lifts, ramps, bath safety solutions and more. All things necessary to make life more accessible. RampNow provides this and more to allow people to become more independent. I sat down with owner Carlos Rogers Lopez and Senior Tech David Dominy to hear the ways they can help.
The apps making Indian monuments more accessible (bbc.com)
A host of audio apps are making learning about India's history and culture more enjoyable.
Top 10 Chrome extensions for web developers (theserverside.com)
Installation of the right browser plugins can make a programmer significantly more productive. Here are 10 productivity boosting-Chrome extensions for web developers to install.
All Newsrooms Need To Welcome Neurodiversity. Here's How. (journoresources.org.uk)
“It has been harder to communicate the small non-physical changes, like how to explain my rest breaks or disjointed working hours to colleagues.”
Disability News and Mental Health, The disabled woman who hired a sex worker (bbc.co.uk)
Aged 43, Melanie booked an escort to experience sex for the first time.
Mothers Day Gift Guide (trend-able.com)
The ultimate Mother's Day gift guide for the stylish woman with a disability. Whether you're shopping for your mom, your wife, or yourself.
Study reveals lifespan morbidities in people with Down Syndrome (disabilityinsider.com)
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has explored the health experiences of people with Down Syndrome in an effort to better understand how the specific needs of people living with the condition compare to people with other forms of intellectual disability.
EDF proposed amendments on the Directive for Equality Bodies (edf-feph.org)
The European Disability Forum welcomes the Commission’s proposals of directives on standards for equality bodies. Equality bodies play an important role to support victims of discrimination, as well as to raise awareness and undertake research on discrimination.
EDF proposed amendments to the revision of the Anti-Trafficking Directive (edf-feph.org)
The European Disability Forum welcomes the revision of the Anti-Trafficking Directive. The Directive adopted in 2011 only makes a few references to disability and does not fully align with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ratified by the EU and all its Member States.
EDF's input to the EU Talent Pool (edf-feph.org)
Persons with disabilities are far less likely to be employed than persons without disabilities, although many of them are skilled workers. Only 50.8% of persons with disabilities are employed, compared to 75% of persons without disabilities.
Interview with Autism-Poland Association of the situation on the border with Ukraine (edf-feph.org)
We spoke with Małgorzata Wokacz-Zaborowska, representative of Autism-Poland Association at Autism-Europe. Members of this association are helping children and adults with autism and their families to integrate into the country after having travelled thousands of kilometres in seeking refuge. This interview was made possible thanks to Autism Europe.
EUCAP project on violence against autistic people in Europe (edf-feph.org)
Blog post by Sara Rocha, representative of the European Council of Autistic People and member of EDF Women’s Committee. The European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP) developed a project on violence against autistic people, funded by the European Women’s Lobby, to understand the experiences of violence autistic people have in their life, including gender-based violence.
We mourn the loss of Jolijn Santegoeds, disability activist and voice for people with psychosocial disabilities (edf-feph.org)
It is with deep sorrow and a very heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Jolijn Santegoeds: our board member, representative of the European Network of (ex) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP) and co-chair of the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry.
Equal Rights on Flights: disability movement demands stronger protections (edf-feph.org)
The report “End the nightmare: Passengers with disabilities deserve to travel by air”, released today, calls for stronger legal protections for persons with disabilities when flying – especially by eradicating the common cases of denial of boarding and increasing companies’ liability on damaging assistive devices, such as wheelchairs.
AE called for promoting an inclusive society at the European Parliament (autismeurope.org)
Autism-Europe inaugurated World Autism Awareness Day early this year by hosting on 30 March a conference under the theme of the 2023 campaign ‘Building an inclusive society for autistic people’ at the European Parliament.
Interview with MEP Rosa Estaràs Ferragut – policymakers are not paying adequate attention to the situation of women with disabilities (edf-feph.org)
Interview with MEP Rosa Estaràs about the rights of women and girls with disabilities, the stigmatization and exclusion of autistic people.
MEPs focus on improving accessibility and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the European Parliament (edf-feph.org)
The members of the Disability Intergroup, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Radka Maxová and MEP Ádám Kósa, co-hosted a meeting on the 16th of March titled “The Power of Accessibility”.
Joint Public Letter to EU lawmakers on patients' rights in the European Health Data Space (edf-feph.org)
To European lawmakers: We, the undersigned organisations representing patients, medical professionals, persons with disabilities, consumer and digital rights organisations, as well as workers and trade unions, urge you to uphold European patients’ fundamental rights when pursuing the digitisation of our health systems and add an ‘opt-in’ consent requirement for the secondary use of health data to the proposed European Health Data Space (EHDS). While we welcome the EHDS’s aim to create interoperable and modern digital health systems across the EU, the European Commission’s proposal unfortunately fails to protect patients when it comes to the sharing and use of their personal medical information by third parties. The EHDS proposal claims to give individuals more control over their private information, but in fact it does the exact opposite: it completely deprives them of that control. Under the rules proposed by the Commission, patients would have no say over the sharing and commercial exploitation of their data and would not even be informed about who receives it.
EDF Board meeting outcomes: Inclusive AI, #DisabilityParliament, engaging with UN (edf-feph.org)
Our first Board meeting of 2023 took place on the 1 April in Stockholm, Sweden. The meeting followed the Conference Disability Rights, Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence” which took place on the 31 March (read the summary of the morning; read the summary of the afternoon).
Ensuring Artificial Intelligence systems respect disability rights (edf-feph.org)
This article provides a summary of the afternoon sessions of the Conference “Disability Rights, Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence”, dedicated to the impact of Artificial Intelligence on Disability Rights. For the morning sessions, focused on the future of disability rights and accessibility, read “Steps for an accessible, disability-inclusive future: our conference in Sweden”
Steps for an accessible, disability-inclusive future: our conference in Sweden (edf-feph.org)
This article provides a summary of the morning sessions of the Conference “Disability Rights, Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence”, dedicated to the future of disability rights and accessibility. For the afternoon sessions focused on Artificial Intelligence, read the article “Ensuring Artificial Intelligence systems respect disability rights”
Stopping EU funds for places that segregate: EDF meets European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira (edf-feph.org)
On 20 April 2023, a delegation of the European Disability Forum led by President Yannis Vardakastanis and Executive Committee Member Maureen Piggot met European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. The meeting was used to discuss how EU Funds can be used to advance the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
DARE - Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (edf-feph.org)
This project aims to train a new generation of researchers in the field of disability rights by embedding them in the top universities in this field, led by the University of Ireland Galway.
As a billionaire king is crowned, he urges us to do some charity work. Welcome to Britain (theguardian.com)
Charles’ coronation initiative is no surprise – the royals seem to prefer ad hoc philanthropy to actually funding public services, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
An EV charging spot offers disabled-accessible parking. Does that mean its use is restricted? (bellinghamherald.com)
Regardless the law, we can always choose to make kind driving (and charging) choices.
LA Metro agrees to comply with ADA, improve access at Union Station (dailynews.com)
An investigation found the downtown Los Angeles train station was not accessible to disabled people.
Dying patients protest looming telehealth crackdown (winknews.com)
At age 93, struggling with the effects of a stroke, heart failure and recurrent cancer, Teri Sheridan was ready to end her life using New Jersey’s law that allows medically assisted suicide -- but she was bedbound, too sick to travel.
For Amanda Stevens And AxeALS, Accessibility Is About Awareness And Treatment For Every Family (forbes.com)
A Bay Area native herself, Stevens’ experiences with ALS as a family member mirrors much of what former Bachelor contestant Sarah Trott shared with me about her own life last fall.
This Is What No One Tells You About Having An Invisible Illness (huffpost.com)
"Those of us with invisible disease and/or disabilities often deal with being misunderstood, and even judged."
Petition Targets Airlines for Inaction on Plus-Size Accessibility (insidehook.com)
Will the campaign force the FAA to make planes more comfortable for all?
Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome (edition.cnn.com)
Mattel on Tuesday introduced its first-ever version of the Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome.
Keys to PDF Accessibility: Setting and Fixing Bookmarks (microassist.com)
WCAG requires many properties and navigational elements to be added to a document to comply with accessibility guidelines and allow assistive technology users to have many places to access the information and navigate the document. Bookmarks is one element that can be used to help users navigate a PDF document and can be added after you have gone through the document and set the correct heading levels. Bookmarks are another navigation tool for accessibility to move through sections using set heading levels.
WCAG 2.2 Update: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? (microassist.com)
Will the upcoming update to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) be a disruptor for universities, technology vendors and users with disabilities? Our CTO ponders the potential impacts of WCAG 2.2, and its potential contribution to the compliance landscape.
Accessibility to Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation (cpr.org)
Everyone loves Colorado’s outdoors, but not everyone can enjoy them in the same way. One state park is leading the way to get people with disabilities outside. This week on Real Talk, accessibility in Colorado — from the trails to the slopes.
Assistive technology - MacOS (op.europa.eu)
[Narrator:] In this chapter we will discuss the accessibility features that come bundled with the macOS operating system. For our course, we will use macOS 10.15, also called macOS Catalina. Please note that Apple updates and changes its operating system from time to time. So, your screen or set of functionalities might look slightly different from the ones described in this tutorial.
Does Google Care About Accessibility? (omnizant.com)
A framework for understanding how Google interprets accessibility and how to create an accessible law website that works for disabled users and ranks highly.
Navigating Blindness in the Supermarket (pod.link)
What if you knew you were quickly losing your sight? That’s something reporter Jason Strother has thought a lot about. In this episode, Jason takes a crash course at the Colorado Center for the Blind to navigate what cooking or grocery shopping might be like while blind. (This episode was previously called "Cooking School for the Blind.")
Meeting WCAG Level AAA (tetralogical.com)
Accessibility consultancy with a focus on inclusion. We can help you with knowledge, experience, strategy, assessments, and development.
The AbilityNet Podcast (abilitynet.org.uk)
Get the latest news and insightful expert discussion about the future of accessibility and inclusive design, from The AbilityNet Podcast: Disability. Technology. Inclusion.
Big Red Adaptive Play and Design Re-Wires Toys for Accessibility (cornellsun.com)
The Big Red Adaptive Play and Design Initiative re-engineers toys and devices to boost their accessibility throughout Ithaca.
Learning Curve: Student makes musical more accessible to those with hearing loss (nebraska.tv)
If you’ve ever been to a musical, chances are the experience had you humming the tunes for a while. For those with hearing loss it's a different experience.
Eurovision 2023 accessibility guide for key Liverpool locations (liverpoolecho.co.uk)
Key locations all over Liverpool have varying accessibility support.
3 Disability Features Not To Miss At The 2023 ReelAbilities Film Festival (forbes.com)
The 15th annual ReelAbilities Film Festival opens on April 27 and is the largest festival of its kind across the United States and beyond celebrating the stories and artistic achievements of film creatives with disabilities. Here are three stand-out features to keep an eye out for.
CAA to rank airlines' accessibility protocols with new framework (ttgmedia.com)
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is calling for views on a proposed framework to improve airline experiences for passengers with accessibility requirements.
Help make Somerset more accessible: your views needed (somerset.gov.uk)
A year-long project to make Somerset more accessible for Disabled people was launched on 1 April 2023.
State & Federal Courts Grant Final Approval to Historic Settlement to Make the NYC Subway Accessible to People Who Need Stair-Free Access (thecitylife.org)
Yesterday both the Southern District of New York (the federal court) and the New York State Supreme Court (state court) granted final approval to a settlement agreement that will make the New York City subway accessible for more than half a million people with disabilities who cannot use stairs to access the system. Presently, only about a quarter of stations are usable by people with disabilities affecting their mobility, but under the terms of the agreement, the MTA will add elevators or ramps to create a stair-free path of travel at least 95% of the system’s currently inaccessible subway stations by 2055. Read the Settlement Agreement.
Disability groups say California's assisted suicide law discriminates against them (npr.org)
Four disability groups have filed a lawsuit to overturn California's assisted suicide law — saying it devalues their lives and encourages discrimination against them.
Viral TikTok Invention 'Single-Handedly' Offering Improved Accessibility (goodgoodgood.co)
Robert Simpson's company Single Handed creates products that offer improved accessibility in homes and the hospitality industry.
Planning a Summer Vacation? Five Reasons to Book an Accessible Hotel Room with accessibleGO (yahoo.com)
With three in four Americans hoping to travel this summer, the time to start planning is now. But those with disabilities often face challenges at every step of the travel-planning process and journey, resulting in fear, anxiety and frustration. Today, accessibleGO, the first hotel booking site for people with disabilities, is sharing solutions to common problems that people with disabilities face when they travel.
Touch screens are causing issues for blind and visually impaired people (rsvplive.ie)
Touch screen card machines are making blind and visually impaired people’s lives more difficult, with some people having to disclose their bank card’s pin number to staff in shops and restaurants
Brazil leads way in making football accessible to autistic fans (youtube.com)
One of Brazil's top football clubs, Corinthians, is leading the way in improving the matchday experience for fans with autism. Autistic fans often have difficulty with social interactions and communication; up to 10 million Brazilians suffer from the condition.
Ireland’s DART+ fleet of electric rail carriages to improve accessibility for train users (thiis.co.uk)
A life-size prototype demonstrates the improved accessibility of the new DART+ fleet of carriages at Inchicore Railway Works in Ireland.
The critical role of accessibility in health information (who.int)
Around 135 million people in the WHO European Region have some form of disability. For some of them, being able to access and understand health information may come with extra challenges. Medical or health-care information can be complex, or the format in which it is presented can be inaccessible. If people don’t receive clear information, they might face difficulties making important health decisions or accessing services at all.
Theatres Trust Funds Vital Accessibility and Sustainability Projects at 19 Theatres (broadwayworld.com)
Theatres Trust, the national advisory body for theatres, is awarding more than £93,000 from its Small Grants Programme supported by The Linbury Trust to 19 theatres to help them to improve their sustainability, access and viability.
Heathrow Express launches accessibility charter (railway-technology.com)
Heathrow Express says that the charter’s goals are to "continuously improve" the quality of the operator's accessible travel offering.
Harrow station in 'dire need' of accessible toilets for wheelchair users amid calls for change (harrowonline.org)
Navin Shah CBE, Chair of Harrow West CLP and a prominent advocate for accessibility, disability, planning and regeneration and equality, has been leading efforts to improve accessibility at Harrow On The Hill station.
Macron promises urgent pre-Paris 2024 action on wheelchair accessibility (insidethegames.biz)
French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting a national conference on disabilities at the Elysees Palace, has conceded failures and slow progress and promised action for France’s 12 million people with disabilities, with initiatives set to be put in place before Paris 2024.
Macron vows €1.5 billion to improve access as disabled people protest decades of inaction (france24.com)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France is investing €1.5 billion to reinforce accessibility to public places for people with disabilities, a day after associations protested in Paris, angry about decades of unmet promises and showing how difficult it is for them to travel alone by public transport in Paris, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Disabled rights protests before Paris Olympics draw pledges (apnews.com)
People in France with disabilities have protested by showing how difficult and frustrating it is for them to travel alone by train into Paris. The demonstration in a town on the outskirts of the French capital on Wednesday delivered a rebuke to government inertia before the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. President Emmanuel Macron promised concrete action during a conference on disabilities, including 1.5 billion euros devoted to accessibility. But a worker for a disability rights organization left his wheelchair and shuffled with help down, then up two flights of stairs to catch a train to the station that connects to the only fully accessible Metro line in Paris.
Vancouver’s goal to be 'most accessible city in world' will cost millions (vancouverisawesome.com)
Ryan Ollis: "It's just not safe for deaf-blind people at the current level of accessibility that the city provides."
Landor & Fitch reveals accessible toothbrush adaptors (designweek.co.uk)
Landor & Fitch has developed customised toothbrush add-ons for people with dexterity issues, while skipping five-year manufacturing lead times.
Mindset Matters: Some Reflections Around The Influence Of Disability In A Changing World (forbes.com)
This column is a thought piece on the idea of the changing landscape of the disability narrative across business and culture.
How Interior Design Software Can Help You Create a Safe and Accessible Home for Aging in Place? (pvplive.net)
As we age, the safety and accessibility of our homes become increasingly important. For those who wish to age in place, interior design software can be a valuable tool for creating a safe and accessible home environment. In this article, we will explore how interior design software can help you create a safe and accessible home for aging in place.
Expanding accessibility: How local governments can digitize inclusively (americancityandcounty.com)
Let’s look at the state of digital accessibility and the steps we can take toward building an inclusive digital transformation of local governments.
San Francisco Looks to Improve Accessibility Through Tech, Data (govtech.com)
Across the city of San Francisco government, teams are working in collaborative ways to improve accessibility to government services and resources to better support people with disabilities.
Diverse Digital Marketing: Boosting Engagement and Reach (cmswire.com)
The idea of "diversity & inclusion" includes creating campaigns that represent the interests of varied people who interact with a brand.
Hybrid working: how we can promote accessibility for all in the workplace (hrnews.co.uk)
Over recent years, an increase in remote working has helped many companies explore what is possible in terms of providing flexibility while maintaining productivity.
How Inaccessible Workplaces Can Destroy Team Collaboration (linkedin.com)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team authored by Patrick Lencioni explores common pitfalls that teams face when trying to work in an effective, collaborative manner.
Accessibility in travel: Customer shares perspective on traveling with autism (news.delta.com)
April is World Autism Month. E.V.P. and Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband sat down for an intimate conversation with a customer and childhood friend to discuss traveling with autism, share advice for parents traveling with autistic children, and show how Delta is committed to making travel accessible for everyone.
Internet Navigation for Individuals with Low Vision or Blindness (nvisioncenters.com)
The internet is your connection to the outside world, even when your vision is impaired. Make the most of your experience with apps, tools, and techniques designed for people with low vision.
Millions Will Be Affected: Hiring at the Department of Justice (linkedin.com)
In physical or built environments, technology is the cornerstone of security, safety, access control, credentials, tracking, and more in the 21st century. Why then do we use 20th century technology for accessibility of physical environments for people with disabilities? Fact.
AI aggregates, but dyslexia innovates (linkedin.com)
The rise of AI is truly remarkable. It is transforming the way we work, live, and interact with each other, and with so many other touchpoints of our lives.
Disability Advocacy Research in Europe - How can Disabled People’s Organisations achieve greater influence through collective action in Europe? (edf-feph.org)
This publication is a result of the DARE – Disability Advocacy Research in Europe. The publication was created by Dr. Claudia Coveney, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum and the University of Leeds.
AE welcomes initiatives to make supermarket autism-friendly (autismeurope.org)
This week Carrefour introduced “silent hours” to make most of their stores in Belgium sensory-friendly for people with sensory processing issues. Delhaize follows suit with a similar scheme as a pilot. Its advocacy officer was able to test the “silent hour” on-site in the Brussels region, spearheaded by a Belgian regional deputy. Similar initiatives have been launched across Europe in the past few years and AE very much welcomes efforts to create autism-friendly spaces and enhance accessibility for autistic people.
EUCAP (eucap.eu)
Bringing together autistic-led organisations in Europe explore our website read the latest news Happening now.
Autism-Europe’s World Autism Awareness Day 2023 Campaign: Building an inclusive society for autistic people (edf-feph.org)
Autism-Europe (AE) is celebrating the UN World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on 2 April, and throughout the month of April 2023. This year also marks a special occasion, as AE celebrates its 40th anniversary. Carried out alongside AE’s members, this year’s campaign “Building an inclusive society for autistic people” is therefore an opportunity to reflect on the advances made so far for the autism community as well as crucially the multiple challenges that remain to improve the lives of autistic people across Europe.
This TV Presenter Is Trying To Get Disabled Mannequins Into The Windows Of Britain's Biggest Shops (buzzfeed.com)
It's 2017 and disabled shoppers are still being "ostracised" from the high street thanks to a lack of access. Meet the woman who thinks it's time to change that for good.
Why we desperately need women to design AI (freecodecamp.org)
At the moment, only about 12–15% of the engineers who are building the internet and its software are women.
Marvel Has Added An American Sign Language Version Of A Movie To Disney+ For The First Time (cinemablend.com)
It's a small (but great) step forward.
Why Is Accessible Design Good for Everyone? (youtube.com)
How Universal Design / Barrier Free Design / Accessible Design Can Benefit Everyone.
Aaron Rose Philip On Why British Vogue's May Cover Is Important (youtube.com)
Everybody deserves to see themselves and feel like they have a space in the world,” says model and British Vogue cover star Aaron Rose Philip. Footage of Aaron Rose Philip, a Black transgender power wheelchair user, wearing a long white Proenza Schouler dress with her hair in a long braid over one shoulder. She is in her wheelchair, smiling and talking into the camera.
Laura Babiuk Owner of Laura Makes Things (laurababiuk.com)
Home of Laura Makes Things & The Chronic Coven.
The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown (levinequerido.com)
Andrea Williams has got this. The Best Summer Ever. Two summers ago, she spent all her time in bed, recovering from the latest surgery for her cerebral palsy. She’s waited too long for adventure and thrills to enter her life. Together with her crew of ride-or-die friends, and the best parents anyone could ask for (just don’t tell them that), she’s going to live it up.
To raise resilient kids, combine 2 popular parenting styles, says child psychologist: Here’s how (monadelahooke.com)
When it comes to raising kids, some parents feel like they need to commit to one ethos.
ENIL and IL Austria complain to the European Commission (enil.eu)
In 2022, ENIL and Independent Living Austria learned about the building of a new institution, the Comeniusheim in the Carinthian Province in Austria, co-financed with European Union funds, in this case with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. This institution was going to replace an older one, which hosts disabled children and is connected to a private special school.
Top Tips To Improve Your Mental Well-being After Limb Loss in 2023 (findingyourfeet.net)
Life can be hectic, especially after limb loss when you have all of the usual responsibilities on top of focusing on your recovery.
Spain bans decades-long tradition of ‘dwarf bullfighting’ (theguardian.com)
Law brings Spain into line with EU directives on discrimination against disabled people.
Disability awareness by a proudly Disabled educator (pacingpixie.com)
There is a distinct lack of disability awareness courses written by Disabled people. Disability 101 fills that gap. This course takes students on a five-part journey to essential disability awareness. Whether a business or individual, it will enable students to become informed and confident navigating disability in the real world.
Is Disability Part Of Your Identity? Ask Yourself These Questions (forbes.com)
Figuring out how you see and present yourself and your disability can be as important as knowing how to adapt to it, get around barriers, and deal with prejudice and discrimination.
E-bikes putting blind people at risk, says charity - BBC News (www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org)
A 700-bike scheme launched in Nottingham earlier this month is causing concern.
Animal review – candid comedy drama explores sex and disability (theguardian.com)
David has cerebral palsy and is determined to lose his virginity using Grindr in Jon Bradfield’s entertaining play.
Majority of persons with disabilities locked out of quality employment (mailchi.mp)
Over 47% of persons with disabilities in the EU cannot pay their bills.
In Defense of Autistic Trans Self-Determination (brownstargirl.org)
On April 13th, 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey put into effect an emergency order barring trans healthcare in his state. In 2023’s onslaught of trans-hating legislation, this is the first ban of gender affirming care for trans adults. This order is a perfect storm, a convergence of anti-trans hate and medical ableism that leaves trans people throughout the United States vulnerable to violence.
Social media platforms disappointing failure in supporting users with autism (disabilityinsider.com)
While understanding and awareness of autism has majorly progressed in recent years, with around 7000 Brits diagnosed, most autistic adults in the UK still don’t get the support they need to be fully included in society. Autism can have a profound impact, with just 29% of autistic adults in any kind of work and new Government plans announced this month to boost employment prospects.
Study raises doubts on the effectiveness of multiple osteoarthritis treatments (disabilityinsider.com)
Recruiting osteoarthritis patients with a lot of pain to clinical studies, may give incorrect results if the researcher does account for the natural variation in pain that occurs. A research group from Lund University in Sweden is now drawing attention to the traps in clinical studies on osteoarthritis.
IPC and IOC team up again with Airbnb to offer 1,000 Athlete Travel Grants (paralympic.org)
Any athlete training towards an upcoming Paralympic or Olympic Games can apply for the Airbnb Athlete Travel Grants programme.
OPINION: Americans with Disabilities Act at Risk? (bostonglobe.com)
Boston Globe senior opinion writer Kimberly Atkins Stohr to talk about the future of ADA.
Doctors Still Have No Idea How to Treat People with Disabilities (newmobility.com)
Over and over again I hear from fellow wheelchair users, “My doctor knows little or nothing about spinal cord injury.” Or, “It’s really hard to find a urologist who has any real understanding of SCI.”…
Mattel Unveils a Barbie with Down Syndrome (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
The Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome was released by Mattel "to allow even more children to see themselves in Barbie," the company said.
The Council of Europe denounces the violation of the rights of persons with disabilities by the French State (edf-feph.org)
This statement is the result of a collective complaint filed by EDF and Inclusion Europe, with the support of Unapei, APF France handicap, Unafam and FNATH in the face of the French State’s failure to respect its obligations towards people with disabilities and their families.
Disabled Australian women face forced sterilisation, abortion and contraception, health groups say (theguardian.com)
Inquiry submissions speak of ‘reproductive violence’, ‘coercion’ and ‘extreme’ violation of rights of women with disabilities.
The Dodgers Re-Signing a Player With Schizophrenia Is Complicated (themighty.com)
"This story is far more nuanced than at first glance."
The Youngest in the Room: My Life with Glaucoma at 20 (blindnewworld.org)
As a teen, Maddie Floyd was shocked by a glaucoma diagnosis. At 20, she's now comfortable with being the youngest in the room.
The distressing reality of ‘care’ for disabled young people (theguardian.com)
Letters: Readers express their anger at the abuse of vulnerable people in care settings highlighted in an article by John Harris.
BT Group partnership boosts digital skills of older people (abilitynet.org.uk)
AbilityNet is delighted to announce a partnership with telecommunications company, BT Group, to help improve the digital skills of older people in the UK.
16th Annual "Virtual" California Disability Advocacy Conference (respectability.org)
One of this year's speakers at the California Disability Advocacy Conference was RespectAbility Board Member Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda.
5 Ways I Cope With Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria and Autism (themighty.com)
"Have you ever wondered why you felt stuck or ruminate on past events?"
Disability Justice is Climate Justice (sinsinvalid.org)
Disability Justice acknowledges that all bodies are valuable, hold beauty, and are deserving of care. This extends to our community bodies, to the bodies of our plant and animal kin, and to our shared planetary body itself, the earth.
Reproductive Justice is Disability Justice (sinsinvalid.org)
In May 2022, the people of the United States learned that the Supreme Court planned to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 ruling that makes abortion access safe and legal.
Sins Invalid Statement on Police Violence (sinsinvalid.org)
In outrage and solidarity, we offer the Sins Invalid Statement on Police Violence, originally released on September 4th, 2014 to coincide with the Stop Urban Shield rally and noise demo in Oakland, CA. It was then released again in December 2015 when Mario Woods, a young Black disabled man, was shot over twenty times by San Francisco police while slowly walking away. In horror and sadness, we updated and re-released it in June 2017 after the death of Charleena Lyles, a pregnant Black mother with a mental health disability, who was killed by Seattle police in her own home after calling to report a burglary. Charleena was murdered in front of her children, one of whom has Down Syndrome.
Me Being a SxWorker Doesn’t Mean You’re Entitled to Me (saltyworld.net)
"S/workers understand consent intimately, and we can say no to anyone that we choose."
People With Disabilities, On Screen And Sans Clichés | All Things Considered (wnyc.org)
Films that focus on disability are frequently overlooked by festivals and audiences. Reelabilities, a 15-city festival, is bucking the trend, showcasing films by and about people with disabilities.
REID DAVENPORT wins the TRUER THAN FICTION Award at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards. (youtube.com)
The 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards, hosted by Hasan Minhaj, happened on Saturday, March 4 on the beach in Santa Monica, streamed *LIVE* on Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter, as well as IMDb’s YouTube.
Meet Gaz Choudhry, the GB Paralympian turned star of AppleTV+’s newest thriller (standard.co.uk)
The basketball champion is making his TV debut playing a killer for hire in new climate crisis series Extrapolations.
Breathe (reelabilities.org)
In 1983, Julie Ridge became the first person to swim two consecutive laps around Manhattan Island, earning her a guest appearance on The David Letterman Show. Now, living in Manhattan and working as a clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience, she dives into her memories of struggling with bipolar disorder, marathon swimming, and how the water has aided her journey.
Neurodivergent (reelabilities.org)
In this profoundly personal mixed media experience inside the ADHD mind, the filmmaker takes us on a journey as she discovers her ADHD diagnosis during the height of the pandemic. When she turns the camera on herself and her family to process what this diagnosis means, she also discovers why so many women with ADHD are undiagnosed, and the dire consequences it has on their lives.
Bendix: Site Unseen (reelabilities.org)
Surrounded by highway traffic sits the unassuming Bendix Diner, owned and operated by John Diakakis. As the blind, single father of three young children who also work at the diner, John attempts to provide a better life for his family.
Mike’s Words (reelabilities.org)
A man with a rare physical disability creates films that focus on the social aspects of being a minority.
Workplace discrimination linked to increased risk of high blood pressure, study finds (edition.cnn.com)
Adults in the United States who reported feeling discriminated against at work had a higher risk of developing high blood pressure than adults who reported less discrimination at work, according to a new study.
5 top tips for making nature and your websites more accessible (abilitynet.org.uk)
In this blog, AbilityNet’s Head of Digital Inclusion Robin Christopherson, MBE outlines some straightforward steps to making websites more accessible.
Disability Justice - a working draft by Patty Berne (sinsinvalid.org)
In recent years, on websites and new media locales, on flyers and in informal conversations, I've witnessed people add the word "justice" onto virtually everything disability related -- from disability rights based services and access audits to disability scholarship -- while doing nothing
Disability Justice from A to Z Coloring Book (sinsinvalid.org)
Sins Invalid’s new Disability Justice from A to Z coloring book includes artwork associated with each letter of the English alphabet, offering an accessible disability justice tool for anyone who can benefit from the creative, embodied, self-soothing aspects of coloring.
Promoting Access to U.S. Higher Education: International Students with Disabilities (opendoorsdata.org)
The Open Doors Special Report – Promoting Access to U.S. Higher Education: International Students with Disabilities provides an initial foundation for stakeholders to understand the national landscape of information on international students with disabilities attending U.S. higher education institutions. The findings in this report reflect information from interviews and survey responses from 386 colleges and universities.
Why Investing in Our Planet Will Help Save People with Disabilities (wid.org)
The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet.” It comes at a time when many facilities and processes, especially in work and education, are being reviewed in the aftermath of the pandemic. This gives governments, businesses and individuals the opportunity to invest in rebuilding a more inclusive environment that’s safe and accessible to all.
International Student Census (opendoorsdata.org)
Using Data to Open Doors
The right to work - Launch of the EDF human Rights Report on employment (us06web.zoom.us)
This year we are launching our 7th Annual Human Rights Report. This report will focus on employment and the right to work for persons with disabilities in the EU. We will share with you the findings from our research. We will also hear directly from people who have experienced barriers to employment and explore what positive steps can be taken to improve the situation.
Disability rights groups sue to overturn California’s physician-assisted death law (news-medical.net)
Disability rights advocates sued Tuesday to overturn California’s physician-assisted death law, arguing that recent changes make it too easy for people with terminal diseases whose deaths aren't imminent to kill themselves with drugs prescribed by a doctor.
I Want Them to Want Me Because I Will Need Them to Need Me But If That’s Not Going to Work, I Want a Lawyer. (talesfromthecrip.org)
Every time Gretchen saw the DNR forms on her desk at home, a wave of resentment rose. How did she know what it was like to use a feeding tube? Or a ventilator?
“Deaf People Shouldn’t Have Children.” (medium.com)
Hearing people automatically suggesting cochlear implants as a solution to deafness is nothing new. They think that cochlear implants are instant and easy fixes with zero consequences or no effort.
If my left shoe could talk about my MS (acoupletakesonms.com)
About once each month, I write an online essay of Exclusive Content for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation’s MS Focus Magazine.
Brain connection pruning in adolescence linked to mental health disorders: Study (disabilityinsider.com)
Problems with the brain’s ability to ‘prune’ itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence, according to research published on April 25.
10 Things Kids With ADHD (and Their Mommas) Wish Teachers Knew (themighty.com)
Let's never forget #7.
How To Create A Safe Space For Kids With Autism In Your Program (kit.org)
Learn the key strategies to support kids with autism in your program to reach their full potential and develop meaningful relationships.
neurodissent (boomplay.com)
In the neurodissent podcast, Nic Subtirelu and Molly Friesenborg talk about neurodivergence, mental health, and psychiatry.
Barbie with Down's syndrome unveiled - PosAbility Magazine (posabilitymagazine.co.uk)
The Barbie brand launches the first Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome, and to mark this moment, British model Ellie Goldstein has appeared in a campaign with the new Barbie.
Too Autistic for Black (the-art-of-autism.com)
Documentary on being 'Black, British and Autistic' - by Writer / Director Tee Cee - Streaming on discovery+.
She Redefined Trauma. Then Trauma Redefined Her (nytimes.com)
Dr. Judith Herman, who helped launch the field of trauma studies, has returned to publishing after a long, mysterious ordeal.
Topgolf announces partnership with Special Olympics, will become an officially sanctioned event (golfdigest.com)
Beginning in 2024, the local organizing committee for any Special Olympics event held across the U.S. or around the globe will have the option to include Topgolf as a global medaled event.
Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome launched by Mattel (theguardian.com)
Firm partnered with US charity and medical experts to create part of ‘most diverse and inclusive doll line’.
Disability Lead: Power. Influence. Change. (disabilitylead.org)
Disability Lead increases civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities.
Watch: A look inside deaf, autistic basketball player Kade West's unique journey (latimes.com)
Basketball saved Kade West, but it was briefly taken away. Watch this video examining the deaf, autistic Cerritos College athlete's journey.
Adult ADHD Is the Wild West of Psychiatry (theatlantic.com)
The Adderall shortage exposed a troubling gap in how doctors care for the disorder.
Mattel Releases Its First Barbie With Down Syndrome (adweek.com)
Barbie's marketing leader explains the thinking behind the brand's first Down syndrome doll.
How To Make Your Google Document Or Presentation More Accessible (accessibility.com)
Make your Google Docs more accessible to people with disabilities by taking the following steps.
Understanding the Financial Rewards of Accessibility (accessibility.com)
Discover why investing in accessibility is a smart financial move for your business.
How To Maintain Up-to-Date Accessibility Features On Your Website (accessibility.com)
Ongoing testing and updates are a requirement for managing any website, and when trying to stay accessible, regular assessments are even more essential.
Can ChatGPT Make The World More Accessible? (accessibility.com)
Can ChatGPT level the playing field for people with disabilities and help them overcome barriers they face in their daily lives through technology?
Building Your Site: Who Needs to be in the Loop for Accessible Website Building (accessibility.com)
Your accessible website design team should include more than website developers. Make sure to include marketing, product, UX, and content teams.
Accessible Design and Digital Inclusivity (accessibility.com)
Accessible design is essential to securing an inclusive digital future in which everyone can participate and benefit from the opportunities this digital revolution offers in the present and the future.