What video game fans can teach us about inclusive AI
I’m Raul Krauthausen the founder of SOZIALHELD*INNEN, an NPO and consultancy from Germany, focussing on Disability Mainstreaming. With this newsletter, I share hand-picked links from around the world.
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Thank you,
Raul
I wrote a book (in german)
In this book, I raise fundamental questions about inclusion in Germany. In conversations with experts, we sketch out an idea of how inclusion can work together at all levels.
The first readings are already scheduled, and I can't wait to finally get back into dialogue with you!
Hand-picked news about inclusion, accessibilty and innovation
Face Equality Week: incidental representation on The Cook Up with Adam Liaw on SBS Food (carlyfindlay.com.au)
Something I talk about a lot is the need for authentic representation in media. I wholeheartedly encourage news outlets to employ people people with facial differences to write articles and speak on TV about facial difference and the issues that impact us, rather than seeking comment from people without lived experience. Nothing about us without us. And I also call for incidental representation.
Can't do what you need to do in a public toilet? You're not alone (tourismsuccess.com)
Most of us don’t give much thought to going to the toilet. We go when we need to go.
What video game fans can teach us about inclusive AI (businessdisabilityforum.org.uk)
The popularity of chatbots has once again put artificial intelligence (AI) in the spotlight, not least because of the many challenges the technology poses for organisations. One aspect that is too often overlooked is the role AI can play in inclusion – or exclusion. How do we ensure that AI doesn’t replicate or intensify barriers that already exist for disabled people?
When a Major Commercial Airline Damages your $30,000 Power Wheelchair – What Next? (quirkyquad.com)
If you are a power wheelchair user then you are probably cringing at the title of this article as there is a 50% chance if you fly this has happened to you. If you are not a wheelchair user, think about this.
Moodle LMS 4.0 achieves WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility compliance (educatingalllearners.org)
Digital accessibility is an inclusive practice that allows everyone, including people with disabilities or some form of impairment, to perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the online environment.
Digital Accessibility Is a Bigger Education Issue Than We Think. Here’s What We Can Do About It. (educatingalllearners.org)
This article was written by Emily Popek and published by EdSurge on May 3, 2023. About a month ago, a colleague forwarded me a newsletter from the school she works with. It was a normal-looking school newsletter: a three-page PDF with information about upcoming events, decorated with colorful clip art of flowers.
The National AEM Cohort: A Showcase of State & Local Actions to Improve Accessibility for All Learners (educatingalllearners.org)
Throughout the month of May, CAST is partnering with the Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Educational Technology (OET) at the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
The right to work - Launch of the EDF human Rights Report on employment (edf-feph.org)
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.
EU Funds for Social Services (eufunds4social.eu)
The HELPDESK is a 2-years project (May 2022 – April 2024) funded by the European Commission which aims to launch the building blocks for a Social Services Helpdesk. The ultimate goal of this project is to increase the use of ESF+ (European Social Fund Plus) and ERDF (the European Regional Development Fund) funding by social services and to make it easier for social service providers to access these funds.
EDF 7th Human Rights Report. The Right to Work: The employment situation of persons with disabilities in Europe (edf-feph.org)
The Seventh Edition of the European Disability Forum’s Human Rights Report focuses on the right to work of persons with disabilities.
MEP K. Langensiepen: I want more Disabled People in the European Parliament (youtube.com)
Hear MEP Katrin Langensiepen's statement on political participation of Disabled People, on the occasion of the European Independent Living Day 2023.
ILMI is proud to announce the launch of its book “Conversations About Activism and Change” (ilmi.ie)
Based on a podcast series capturing the voices of disability activists from across Ireland and edited by Sarah Fitzgerald a disabled author, this book is authentic in every aspect of its creation and a true oral history of the disability rights movement. The book was launched on the 5th of May 2023 which is also European Independence Day.
Despite Laws, People With IDD Less Likely To Receive Organ Transplants (disabilityscoop.com)
New research suggests that people with developmental disabilities face more difficulty than others accessing organ transplants even in cases where they are no more likely to have complications.
Face masks are still a good idea at the doctor's office, study says (edition.cnn.com)
Signs urging everyone to mask up have largely disappeared from places like grocery stores and schools in the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic. But they remain in many medical offices, and a study published Monday says they might still be a good idea.
How TV Stories Have Shaped Our Understanding of AIDS (vulture.com)
Using the tools of serialized storytelling, television has both reflected and reshaped our perception of the virus, one fictional character at a time.
CDC Finds Skin Infection Never Before Seen in US in NYC (nbcnewyork.com)
The Centers for Disease Control released findings last week of two cases of a “drug-resistant” infection in New York.
Apple previews Live Speech, Personal Voice, and more new accessibility features (apple.com)
Apple today previewed software features for cognitive, vision, hearing, and mobility accessibility, along with innovative tools for individuals who are nonspeaking or at risk of losing their ability to speak.
AXSChat with Michael Cooper - Web Accessibility Specialist at W3C in axschat interviews (vimeo.com)
Michael joined the W3C in June 2006 as a Web Accessibility Specialist. Michael is the Team Contact for the Accessible Platform Architectures Working Group which…
Therapist Trainings Needed on Disability to Counter Neoliberalism in Mental Healthcare (madinamerica.com)
Disability scholar Joanne Hunt’s call for structural competence training around disability counters neoliberal ideologies in clinical training.
What Do Disabled People Expect From Disability Inclusion And Representation? (forbes.com)
The business benefits of diversity can certainly be overstated. But they do exist. It doesn't take that much imagination or even "sensitivity" to think of how. And the social benefits, though often fleeting, overstated, and disparaged by grumpy naysayers, are worth it.
Bad Disability Ideas (disabilitythinking.substack.com)
What disturbing trends in disability thinking and policy keep you up at night? What kinds of ideas can we expect to tangle with in the near future, if we aren’t already?
Increased Accessibility Takes More Than a Welcome Sign (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
From the seen to the unseen, unconscious accessibility bias continues to rear its ugly head, becoming more visible to the disabled community.
Don’t Forget Disability in DEI (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
Disability plays a significant role in the overall diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) conversation. Despite this, it is often the last group considered in the conversation.
Bobby Henline: Forging Forward (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
This year, Henline will host several Forging Forward events at military bases and other sites across the country, including a Big Sky Retreat in Helena, Montana on June 1-4.
Anglicare asked to review procedures after royal commission finds it failed to report sexual assault (theguardian.com)
Organisation found to have ‘lacked a trauma-informed approach’ and failed to support disabled woman appropriately.
Disabilities in media: Overcoming obstacles and achieving success (editorandpublisher.com)
Dave Stevens is the only legless player in sports history to have played NCAA football and minor league baseball. The seven-time Emmy-winning sports journalist is now a motivational speaker and television host as he nears 40 years in broadcasting. While he says the media industry has come a long way in terms of inclusivity, he adds: "we still have a long way to go in this and other aspects of society."
Harriet Tubman’s Disability and Why it Matters (msmagazine.com)
In Harriet Tubman's version of freedom, Black women were liberators and a disabled Black woman sat at the center of democracy.
Thomas F. Plunkett, “The Armless Hero of Fredericksburg” (militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com)
The courage and compassion of Medal of Honor recipient Thomas Francis Plunkett includes seven wartime and postwar portraits of him.
In Life Expectancy Trends, the Health Impacts of Incarceration (undark.org)
Research suggests prison accelerates the aging process and may be a factor in falling U.S. life expectancy.
Can a P3 Make New York Subways More Accessible to Disabled Users? (enr.com)
New York's transit agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is committing billions to building elevators in subways.
We might be on the verge of an indoor air quality revolution (washingtonpost.com)
Stronger ventilation standards could represent a monumental shift.
AAPD Calls for Resources and Protection Following End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (aapd.com)
In light of the termination of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Maria Town, President and CEO of The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), released the following statement.
Tough Tradeoffs Under Republican Work Requirement Plan: Some People Lose Medicaid or States Could Pay to Maintain Coverage (kff.org)
On April 26, 2023, the House of Representatives passed a Republican debt ceiling bill (HR 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023) that includes a requirement for states to implement work requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees. Data show that 91% of non-elderly Medicaid enrollees who are not on Supplemental Security Income or Medicare are working or face barriers to work. We estimate that if the proposal were fully implemented in 2024 and the rate of Medicaid eligibility loss was as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated, then 1.7 million enrollees would not meet work or reporting requirements and potentially face disenrollment in that year. States could continue to provide Medicaid to those enrollees but would not receive federal matching funds for doing so. It is unclear if any states would choose to do that, though CBO estimated over half of enrollees would continue to be covered at the states’ expense. If states chose to keep all 1.7 million people enrolled, $10.3 billion of Medicaid spending would shift from the federal to state governments in 2024. A small number of states with the largest share of enrollees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion would account for almost half of the increased state spending or coverage losses.
Access Oriented Lit (aolit.carrd.co)
The run-down and values of Access Oriented Lit: a community project for disabled creative writers.
Tilted Thinking, Wanting Ways, and Our Neurodiverse Future with Imane Boukaila, Chris Martin, and Adam Wolfond (poetryproject.org)
You are invited to an evening of tilted thinking, hydrated languaging, and trespassing truth. In celebrating braided and liberatory new books, Chris Martin, Adam Wolfond, and Imane Boukaila desire greatly to rally and gather, motion and scatter.
A. Sef & Akeema-Zane: Void Spa (recessart.org)
Black Tape Ebony Frame celebrates the living moments of Fabri’s African American family and friends by creating a reel-to-reel analog audio recording of one-on-one conversations.
Crip Algebra (bmoreart.com)
Crip Algebra is a group show of three queer disabled artists exploring the calculations it requires to cultivate access in an ableist world. alx velozo (Baltimore, MD), RA Walden (Berlin, GE), and Saar Shemesh (Richmond, VA) have been part of a queer crip carework system with one another for years. This show explores the acrobatic math of surviving and caring as disabled people using rubber, fire, and film.
“Our Hands”: Reading with DeafBlind Poet John Lee Clark (publicbooks.org)
Clark’s poetry collection questions how those excluded from spoken conversation devise new avenues for transmission.
21 Of The Best Films, Books And Shows That Spotlight Experiences Of Disability (vogue.co.uk)
From Oscar-winning documentaries and brilliant books to history-making films, hilarious shows and graphic novels.
Meet Ben Trockman, the Disability Rights Activist Challenging the Status Quo (advocate.com)
Almost 10 years ago, Trockman led the effort to get Congress to pass policies that ensured airplane travel for people with disabilities.
From Tchaikovsky to heavy metal suits disability advocate Kelly Vincent just fine (abc.net.au)
"That surprises people who look at me as this softly spoken, five foot something (woman) in a wheelchair."
About Seatrac (seatrac.gr)
SEATRAC is a free service that offers unassisted sea access to people with disabilities and mobility issues.
In The Sunroom: My Home, My Rights (halifaxpubliclibraries.ca)
On display from April 30 to May 31, 2023 in The Sunroom at Central Library, My Home, My Rights multimedia exhibit.
“Metal Plastic Skin” Disability Dance Creation (gofundme.com)
Vanessa Hernández Cruz is a Chicana Disabled dance artist seeking to bring together Disability & contemporary dance into the Los Angeles dance ecosystem. Her new evening-length work explores vulnerability fatigue as a Disabled Chicana woman & how medical equipment has been a form of freedom, survival and assimilation in this inaccessible world. Vanessa will be utilizing her visual artwork & poetry for this performance.
2023 Global Accessibility Awareness Day (go.3playmedia.com)
Join 3Play Media in celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) with a special presentation by David Berman!
In Memory of Neil Jacobson (respectability.org)
RespectAbility Senior Policy Advisor Matan Koch reflects on his longtime friendship with the late Neil Jacobson.
Tributes from RespectAbility Board and Staff to Neil Jacobson (respectability.org)
Read tributes from our team to the life and legacy of the late disability activist and former Board Member of RespectAbility Neil Jacobson.
Clinician: Serious long-Covid ‘should be classed a disability’ (jerseyeveningpost.com)
LONG-Covid – a potentially debilitating condition which has left some Islanders so ill they have been forced to give up their careers – should be classed as a long-term disability in serious cases, according to a leading clinician.
This woman who scaled a 2,600-metre mountain face says she 'proudly checks the disability box' (cbc.ca)
Nine-time U.S. paraclimbing champion Maureen Beck is an inspiration for all climbers, not just those with disabilities.
Building disability strength through personalised programmes (teaomaori.news)
Two teams have joined forces to create programmes for Pacific families dealing with a disability.
Why I Advocate For Disability To Be Fun, Fly & Sexy — Just Like Me (refinery29.com)
Model, actress, author and disability advocate Lauren “Lolo” Spencer reflects on the personal triumphs – and challenges – of living, working, and dating with a disability and why she’s always going to push for joyful depictions of Black women with disabilities.
How to build accessibility into corporate events (urevolution.com)
People are often inadvertently excluded from events because they have a disability. This can be avoided by building accessibility into corporate events through proper event planning.
‘It proves he is capable’: the extreme sports offering release for disabled people (theguardian.com)
From boxing to climbing to sensory tennis, a Sport England grant scheme is transforming the lives of people with complex disabilities.
SLAIT – Real-time Sign Language Translator with AI (slait.ai)
Video communication app that helps American Sign Language (ASL) speakers communicate with hearing.
Dysgraphia and ADHD representation in children’s books – with Patty DeDurr (sites.libsyn.com)
Patty DeDurr is a mom, healthcare worker and award-winning author of two children’s books: "This Kid Can Hyperfocus" (a story about ADHD) and "This Llama Can Write" (a story about dysgraphia). She provides educational information and resources about supporting neurodivergent kids on her publisher's website, Sensing Greatness. Patty has ADHD and dysgraphia herself, and she’s determined to help reduce stigma surrounding neurodivergence by increasing representation in literature.
Face Equality Week – letting my redness shine (carlyfindlay.com.au)
Hiding can take form in many ways for people with facial differences and akin conditions. It can be not going outside; using filters on social media to edit out scars or change skin colour in photos of us; not having our photos taken; strategically positioning ourselves in public spaces to avoid receiving stares and comments; covering up with clothes or makeup; and so on. I’ve done a few of these things on that list through my life.
In Conversation: Ailís Ní Ríain and Alice Sheppard on 'Wired' (disabilityarts.online)
Ailís Ní Ríain and Alice Sheppard discuss the artistic process surrounding Wired, a multi-sensory performance experience which meditates on disability, gender, race and the history of barbed wire.
Kinetic Light’s Wired Worldmaking (fjordreview.com)
Kinetic Light’s latest production, “Wired” contains the most fantastical aerial moments as well as instances of dancing free of rigging.
Making Wired and Additional Context (kineticlight.org)
Tonight’s performance is the culmination of many artists’ brilliance, passion, commitment, and work. After some experimental residencies at New York Live Arts and Jacob’s Pillow, the majority of Wired was built in 2020-2021, in a bubble residency in the San Francisco Bay Area at Z Space theater. In the shelter of this generative space, we lived together, on and off, for almost a year, and we made a work that I believe is transformative.
Kinetic Light is WIRED (kineticlight.org)
In celebration of the one year anniversary of our MCA Chicago premiere and filming in May 2022, these accessible Wired videos are available May 8 until June 12, 2023. Enjoy!
104 films work with film4 to bring new disabled voices to the screen (104films.com)
104 films are working with film4 to bring new and exciting disabled voices to the screen in our portmanteau project 4love, which consists of 4 shorts on the theme of Love. We are delighted to be working with film4 on this brilliant project which puts disability front and centre both in front of and behind the cameras. 25% of cast and crew on the films are disabled and there were accessibility coordinators working across the films to create an accessible and inclusive set.
There’s No Cure for Gretchen Lowe: A Mother’s Day Card From Alice (talesfromthecrip.org)
Alice’s schoolteacher handwriting greeted Gretchen in the stack of mail that evening. Oh Alice, Gretchen snorted pleasurably. I couldn’t have picked a better card myself.
'Probably will not fly again for quite a while': Wheelchair damage puts traveler off. (news.yahoo.com)
Rob Birk shares how his wheelchair was damaged on an Allegiant flight, and explains why he chose to fix it himself.
Ableism and disablism – how to spot them and how we can all do better (theconversation.com)
Disability has been called the world’s largest minority and is a group any person can join at any time in their life. It befits us all to dismantle discrimination.
Now More Than Ever, We Need to Fight, Not Despair (thenation.com)
The never-ending Covid toll, the government’s indifference to this suffering—it’s easy to feel helpless about all of it. But we have to keep resisting.
Zero Project Call for Nominations 2024 (zeroproject.org)
The Zero Project Call for Nominations 2024 (#ZeroCall24) is on Inclusive Education, and ICT. It calls on inclusive, innovative, and scalable solutions from around the world and from all sectors of society to submit their nominations.
National Center on Disability and Journalism names new executive director (cronkite.asu.edu)
Pauline Arrillaga has been named executive director of the National Center on Disability and Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
Social Justice: What’s disability got to do with it? (youtube.com)
Interested in making changes in your organization to accelerate your work and be more disability inclusive? Then, this video is for you!
The tragic deaths the British press is reluctant to cover (cjr.org)
Errol Graham, a disabled man designated by the British government as highly vulnerable, failed to turn up for a welfare assessment. Graham was a fifty-seven-year-old grandfather living in Nottingham, England. He had been a keen amateur soccer player in his younger years, but was now suffering mental distress and severe anxiety and had been getting a payment known as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), for people whose disabilities make it hard for them to hold down work.
Research shows youth suicide attempts, depression spiked amid the COVID-19 pandemic (journalistsresource.org)
Two meta-analyses synthesize the findings of a combined 95 studies on suicide attempts, depression and anxiety among kids in 2021 and 2022.
Why I Am More and More Ambivalent About My Autism Diagnosis (nytimes.com)
Mental health diagnoses shouldn’t be treated like a zodiac sign.
Column: They're facing an 'epidemic of loneliness and isolation,' but solutions are within reach (latimes.com)
Adult centers run by Valley InterCommunity Council offer support for those in isolation. 'If you know anybody that’s old like me, and, you know, needs a friend, I would love that'.
Racial disparities in premature deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic (healthsystemtracker.org)
Although older adults have been at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID-19, many younger people have had their lives cut short by the illness. And, while much attention has been paid to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color, it also is important to consider the prematurity of these deaths. As a measure of the impact of the pandemic, mortality rates alone do not tell the full story as they do not incorporate the age at death. One can also look at the premature mortality rate, or the rate of death below a certain age. Another measure, years of life lost (derived from counts of deaths at each age that were in excess of deaths observed in typical years), measures the degree of prematurity of deaths during the pandemic. In this brief, we examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by race and ethnicity through the lens of premature mortality, using the measures of premature mortality rate and years of life lost among excess deaths that occurred during the pandemic.
Is coronavirus a disease of the blood vessels? (bhf.org.uk)
Dr Phoebe Kitscha explores some of the biology behind the effects of Covid-19 on the circulatory system, and the research into ways to prevent and treat these effects.
Love Island’s first deaf contestant Tasha speaks out on ableism from trolls (the-sun.com)
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri has spoken about the ableism she faced after becoming the show's first ever deaf contestant.
Daily road closure leaves disabled woman imprisoned in her home (disabilitynewsservice.com)
The closure of a road by a council has left a disabled woman imprisoned in her home and unable to attend vital health appointments, in the latest example of pedestrian-friendly policies that are failing to take access needs into account.
Autistic shop worker fired after he was attacked three times in four months by thieves (unilad.com)
They claim to have been fired even after requesting worker's compensation following three consecutive attacks.
Meet Hungary's Paralympic champion Ekler, the university teacher boosting Para sports (paralympic.org)
Luca Ekler, who won the women’s long jump T38 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, says finding Para athletics was ‘a dream come true’.
Raising a disabled child erodes health in low-income mothers (hollandbloorview.ca)
'The health disparity between mothers of children with and without disabilities disappeared in families with higher incomes.'
No Reader Left Behind: Celebrating Diverse Reading Experiences (medium.com)
In Season One, episode eight, Giles from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show once notes in an episode, “Books smell musty and-and-and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is a… it, uh, it has no-no texture, no-no context. It’s-it’s there and then it’s gone. If it’s to last, then-then the getting of knowledge should be, uh, tangible. It should be, um, smelly.”
TikTok's fake sign language trend is 'frustrating' Deaf Kiwis (stuff.co.nz)
Users from the hearing community are sharing their new signing skills with hiccups often appearing in their gestures and words being mistranslated.
Dispatches from Disabled Country (ubcpress.ca)
Dispatches from Disabled Country; Dispatches from Disabled Country is a nuanced and unmistakably poetic introduction to the rich landscape of disability activism and culture from one of Canada’s most recognized voices, Catherine Frazee.
'Racism in maternity care means even black midwives think our pain threshold is higher' (inews.co.uk)
Brenda Kola says inequality in her care during labour put her and her baby’s life at risk after figures revealed black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to die after giving birth.
Georgia summer camps to revise policies to accommodate children with disabilites (wsbtv.com)
"Children with disabilities deserve an equal opportunity to safely participate in camp activities and programs," U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.
Structural Ableism — Essential Steps for Abolishing Disability Injustice (nejm.org)
People with disabilities face inequities in social determinants of health, health care access and quality, and the impact of global crises, all of which compound the harms to the disability community.
Martyn Ashton Shreds Adaptive Bikes At Sea Otter! (youtube.com)
Martyn Ashton was recently in Monterey California USA at the Iconic Sea Otter Classic mountain bike festival. He was collecting his new Bowhead adaptive bike so decided to take it for a mini-adventure shred with Cole Bernier!
Memories of Judy Heumann, my Oldest Friend — Helen: The Journal of Human Exceptionality (helenjournal.org)
I wrote this the weekend Judy Heumann died. I’ve known her since I was 4, and she was my oldest, most beloved friend , sister, mentor, confidant, and so much more!
Monday Minute: How Did I Get My Start in Advocacy? (youtube.com)
Happy Monday! A pretty common question I get is how and when I got my start in advocacy. Would you believe me if I told you I have been ad advocate for over 70 years? If you are an advocate, let me know how and when you got started!
Can Loneliness Cause Depression? (everydayhealth.com)
Depressive symptoms like social withdrawal can ramp up feelings of loneliness, which in turn can make you more depressed. Here’s how to stop the cycle.
'Why aren't you taking care of us?' Why long COVID patients struggle for solutions (pbs.org)
The very patients who live with long-term illness and no approved treatment after COVID infection feel they must fend for themselves, even as the United States declares an end to the COVID public health emergency.
Allison Wallis: I Don't Feel Bad About My Disability. You Shouldn't Either (civilbeat.org)
People with disabilities have developed a different way of looking at their lives.
6yo's run-in with dirty needles in accessible toilet sparks divisive debate on disability master key access (abc.net.au)
The floor was littered with used needles, but disability access advocates say a special key may be the solution to stopping vandals and drug users from littering bathrooms.
Accessible Education For Disabled Creatives Is More Important Than Ever (forbes.com)
The creative industries must evolve past the obsolete recruitment practices that prioritize physical endurance over other essential skills for entry-level positions. It is time to revolutionize the way we think about “breaking into” in the industry.
Catarina's Disability Reading List! (bookshop.org)
Looking for a new read by disabled authors about disability? Look no further.
Everyone welcome: Accessibility, inclusivity at center of Flint & Genesee visitor experience (and.flintandgenesee.org)
All Andi Lau wanted was a place where her grandson, who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), could be himself.
Nelson Treehouse and Opportunity Enterprises team up to create fully accessible treehouse for people with disabilities (chicagocrusader.com)
Nelson Treehouse of Treehouse Masters fame, partners with Opportunity Enterprises to build a fully accessible treehouse as part of the new Lakeside Respite Center.
WAM Theatre Announces Accessibility Initiatives for their Spring Co-Production of WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME (broadwayworld.com)
WAM Theatre has shared several audience accessibility initiatives for its upcoming co-production of What the Constitution Means to Me with Berkshire Theatre Group. Forming the core of the audience accessibility initiatives is a sensory-friendly performance, caregiver reimbursements, masked performances options, and sliding scale ticketing initiative.
Digital Accessibility Helps Businesses Improve Inclusivity, Avoid Costly Risks, and Unlock New Market Opportunities, Says Info-Tech Research Group. (prnewswire.com)
/PRNewswire/ - With online and hybrid work continuing to be the norm, digital accessibility has become increasingly important for businesses. It has become...
Applause Global Accessibility Survey Shows Disconnect Between Making Accessibility a Priority and Achieving Conformance to WCAG 2.1 Standards (businesswire.com)
Applause announced results of its annual Accessibility and Inclusive Design Survey examining accessibility prioritization and WCAG conformance.
Meet Idan Meir (canvasrebel.com)
Idan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?
Taming the tiger (disabilitydebrief.org)
Updates from Sudan, the future of care and ableism in the Paralympics
The opportunity for assistive technology (blogs.microsoft.com)
People with disabilities often do not have access to the assistive technology (AT) they need, despite an increasing demand for it. An estimated 1.3 billion people will need assistive technology (AT) by 2050. High prices, limited availability, internet connectivity, maintenance needs, and lack of localization are just some of the friction points in accessing this critical technology.
Travel Tips when Flying with a Manual Wheelchair (enabledmom.com)
Here are some tips and tricks to make flying with a wheelchair easier.
The Role of Web Accessibility in Web Development. (whatech.com)
This is the place web accessibility comes into play, which refers to designing and developing websites and applications that can be used by all individuals, inclusive of those with disabilities. In this weblog post, we will talk about the position of web accessibility in internet improvement and why it's essential.
Why Justified (or Centered) Text is Bad for Accessibility (boia.org)
Fully justified or center-justified text can make your website less readable, particularly for people who use assistive technologies. Here’s why.
Hispanics with disabilities hit record employment, data shows (axios.com)
More than 6.1 million U.S. Hispanics, or 10% of the Latino population, live with some form of disability.
Raising Children with One Blind and One Sighted Parent (pneumasolutions.com)
Parenthood is one of the most rewarding and challenging journeys anyone can embark on. From the moment you bring a child into this world, you are responsible for their well-being, happiness, and growth. Now imagine navigating this journey with one parent who is blind and another who is sighted. How do they manage to raise their children? What obstacles do they face? And how do they overcome them?
Accessibility Training (accessibility.umich.edu)
This page includes some materials created by the U-M Accessibility team as well as various other resources.
A11yOps: Automated digital compliance for accessibility (thoughtworks.com)
Discover how Thoughtworks embeds accessibility at scale.
Accessible Design Tools for a More Inclusive World Wide Web (lbbonline.com)
1 in 5 Canadians has a disability—that’s 6.2 million people! Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought when 20 percent of our population struggles with systematic exclusion. As a brand, if you take the necessary steps to have an accessible website and social media presence, you can better provide your services to a massive community of people who are undeservingly excluded from so many aspects of our everyday lives.
Making hiking trails more accessible with 'mini tanks' (boisestatepublicradio.org)
Our region is known for beautiful mountain trails, but for those with a disability, hiking can be difficult. One state park in Colorado has worked to fix that.
Belgium urgently needs to work on accessibility for all (commentaryboxsports.com)
It’s time we face the hard truth: the Belgian government has failed in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, the injured, young parents with strollers, etc. It is a shocking truth that our society remains increasingly unable to meet the needs of these groups.
In Her Own Words: Slack’s Sommer Panage advocates for accessibility (bizjournals.com)
To newcomers in the accessibility space: Seek mentorship, know you will make mistakes, and keep learning.
Mapping the Disability Tech Market with Perkins School for the Blind (equalentry.com)
The Howe Innovation Center is part of Perkins School for the Blind . The center is named for Samuel Gridley Howe, the founding director of Perkins. He was a visionary for his time in the 1830s. Howe believed that people with disabilities should be mainstreamed into society. He was a social entrepreneur.
Council Post: Voice, Gesture And Emotion: The New Frontier In Accessible User Interfaces (forbes.com)
The new frontier in accessible user interfaces goes beyond touch.
Accessibility Resource Library (highways.dot.gov)
Each office in the Federal Highway Administration is responsible for maintaining accessibility information as it relates to its own program. This page supports the effort to organize and make available all information that relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other accessibility resources that may affect research, planning, design, construction, or operations of any Federal Highway Administration project.
Accessibility Virtual Reality: User Studies with Children and Seniors Presentation (equalentry.com)
VRTogether designed a virtual reality social game that is designed to alleviate loneliness and improve a person’s well-being. Equal Entry worked with Azalee Group to see if using VRTogether’s virtual reality app could improve the lives of seniors and the education of children. The study took place at Azalee’s facility.
'The inclusive web can be liberating,' so do these 3 things to prioritize digital accessibility (technical.ly)
Accessibility pros from Tamman and A11YPHL offered tools and tips for developers to keep in mind during a Philly Tech Week discussion.
How Policy Startup Plural Is Using Tech To Make Legislation More Accessible To Everyone (forbes.com)
The team at Plural is cognizant of the issues here, which is why the startup builds what it describes on its website as an "easy-to-use policy tracking and collaboration tool" in solving the usability problem.
'A Serious Obstacle To Full Participation': Tammy Duckworth Demands Increased Accessibility Spending (youtube.com)
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned witnesses at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the budget for East Asia and the Pacific last week.
Soundly’s Blake Cadwell Talks Ask Soundly Software, Accessibility Of AI Chatbots, More In New Interview (forbes.com)
Earlier this week, Cadwell and team made news with Soundly’s announcement of a product it calls Ask Soundly. The software, currently in beta, leverages OpenAI’s super-popular ChatGPT technology to enable customers to use the chatbot to ask questions about hearing health and hearing aids.
It’s time to make waves in beach accessibility (pursuit.unimelb.edu.au)
Excluding people with disability from beach culture is both unfair and unlawful. Australia could be a world leader in making beaches accessible to people of all abilities.
When Zach's favourite park was 'upgraded', he found he could no longer access it. So he wrote a letter (abc.net.au)
One-fifth of the region is living with a disability, so why would a community park makeover leave some unable to play? This seven-year-old who uses a wheelchair is asking council to reconsider.
IPC praises French Government’s push to improve rights of persons with disabilities (paralympic.org)
Amongst a range of measures by the French Government will be a EUR 1.5 billion investment into accessibility.
‘People can be different and still enjoy their life’: How a Toronto festival is revolutionizing accessibility in cinema (cp24.com)
A festival showcasing films about Deaf and disabled communities is returning to Toronto this week.
Gerald's public housing property has him living in filth and constant pain. And he's not alone. (abc.net.au)
Appropriate housing is a "fundamental human right". But it's far from guaranteed for people with a disability in public housing, writes Isabel Dayman.
N. Hamgyong Province moves to improve education accessibility for disabled children (dailynk.com)
“If the Central Committee ratifies the plan, home teaching efforts will likely begin from June at the earliest,” a reporting partner told Daily NK.
Questions asked over accessibility of NHS trust base (edp24.co.uk)
Questions have been asked about how accessible an NHS trust's Norwich base is for its disabled workers.
UK Civil Aviation Authority launches consultation on proposed airline accessibility framework (thiis.co.uk)
UK Civil Aviation Authority launched a consultation for views on a proposed framework to improve airline experiences for disabled passengers.
Greece makes nearly 200 beaches accessible with adaptive chairs (independent.ie)
This summer, beachgoers with mobility issues will have more opportunities to swim in the Mediterranean without having to worry about traversing the sand.
How can the financial industry address digital accessibility? (dhakatribune.com)
We have some ways to go before a service as fundamental as banking is inclusive for all.
Boy with amputated limbs gets accessible garden makeover (bbc.com)
The family of eight-year-old Taylor says he is now able to enjoy his trampoline and slide.
London needs more accessible design - City Hall (bbc.com)
A London Assembly committee says disabled people face too many access problems across the capital.
Aresti is bucking the trend of people living with disabilities going into aged care homes (abc.net.au)
Aresti lives with disability and was facing being put into a group home — until his family got creative with NDIS funding.
The Daily Struggles of Kashmir's Disabled Community in a World of Inaccessible Structures (newsclick.in)
Most public and private buildings lack ramps, lifts, and other accessibility features like audio or visual navigation that would make it simpler for people like Shafi to reach the top floors.
How Far Have We Come With Our Efforts Of Accessibility Towards Disability? (outlookindia.com)
Like the boom in the technology industry, it is now being noticed that from the highest governmental levels to the smallest micro-interventions, broad changes are being made to ensure the highest possible standard of living for people with disabilities.
Six game-changing projects thanks to Northern’s £250k Accessibility Innovation Fund (news.railbusinessdaily.com)
Northern has announced details of six game-changing projects given the green light thanks to its £250,000 Accessibility Innovation Fund. Projects include Northern has announced details of six game-changing projects given the green light thanks to its £250,000 Accessibility Innovation Fund.
New Toronto restaurant brings inclusive and accessible space to neurodiverse people (toronto.ctvnews.ca)
When Jennifer Low and Deon Kim moved to Toronto last year, talks of opening up their own restaurant came to the forefront.
Access denied: Ongoing struggle for accessibility in Bengaluru for physically special individuals (newstrailindia.com)
Despite advancements in technology and awareness campaigns in Bengaluru, people who are physically disabled still face significant barriers to accessibility in their daily lives. Public spaces and buildings in the city frequently lack appropriate accommodations such as wheelchair ramps, accessible parking spaces, and elevators, making it difficult or impossible for people with physical disabilities to navigate them independently.
How to make sure you get an accessible hotel room if you need one (thepointsguy.com)
Travelers with accessibility needs face many obstacles when booking hotels, including how to confirm an ADA-compliant room with a roll-in shower and beds that they will be able to use. Our consumer advocate asked Marriott and Hyatt about recent cases where travelers were not given the accessible rooms they had reserved and how to resolve this in the future.
IS AI ADA compliant? (foxnews.com)
AI is not in and of itself ADA complaint. Although concerns exist that artificial technology can discriminate against the disabled, it can also solve accessibility problems.
MTA Hero prioritizes accessibility by making seats comfortable, putting braille on buses (abc7ny.com)
"It should be clean, it should be comfortable, and something they experience as a good experience," Kerry Bowden said.
7 museums, gardens, and performance venues making art more accessible to all (roadtrippers.com)
From glasses designed for color blindness to improved wheelchair accessibility, these initiatives are helping more people access the arts.
Many people living in the 'Diabetes Belt' are plagued with medical debt (npr.org)
More than half of the counties in the nation's so-called Diabetes Belt also have high rates of medical debt among their residents, an NPR analysis found.
Making Baltimore accessible for people with disabilities would cost over $650 million (thebaltimorebanner.com)
The scope of the problem in Baltimore is enormous, city documents show.
Can airlines fix their antiquated accessibility procedures? (thealpenanews.com)
Airline travel can be stressful. You have to deal with long lines at security, missing or damaged luggage, even a delayed flight or two. For Laura Hall, the program director at the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition in East Lansing, air travel can be even tougher.
Lilly drug slows Alzheimer's by 35%, bolstering treatment approach (reuters.com)
An experimental Alzheimer's drug developed by Eli Lilly and Co slowed cognitive decline by 35% in a late-stage trial, the company said on Wednesday, providing what experts say is the strongest evidence yet that removing sticky amyloid plaques from the brain benefits patients with the fatal disease.
Wheelchair repairs and adaptive gaming: Temple is opening a new $500k space for people with disabilities (inquirer.com)
Temple received a $500k grant for a new community space to further support Philadelphians with disabilities. The space will expand and support programs focused on things like wheelchair repairs.
Listen both ways: Blind walkers winning safer road crossings (abcnews.go.com)
A federal judge's ruling blasting Chicago planners for not equipping more of their intersections with audible signals that help blind pedestrians cross busy streets has given advocates a victory they call long overdue
Theatre Cedar Rapids introduces sensory kits to make viewing experience more accessible (kcrg.com)
If you’ve been to a live show at the theatre, you know it can be an intense experience with lighting, loud noises, and special effects. That’s why Theatre Cedar Rapids wants to provide a way to help patrons handle overstimulation.
A Guide To Free Website Accessibility Tools Every Site Owner Should Use (foreignpolicyi.org)
In this article, the best website accessibility tools every site owner should use will be explored, so you can ensure that everyone who clicks on your site can use it.
Firefox 113 significantly boosts accessibility performance (blog.mozilla.org)
About five years ago Mozilla shipped Firefox Quantum, an upgrade that included significant performance improvements for most Firefox users.
Advise Wise enhances accessibility of later life platform (mpamag.com)
It introduced new abilities in the product search and made accessibility improvements for colour blind users.
Why GiveWell funded the rollout of the malaria vaccine (blog.givewell.org)
In this post, we explain how we found the opportunity to fund the malaria vaccine; discuss why we funded a grant to PATH to accelerate the roll out of the vaccine in certain areas of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi; and share our plan for malaria funding moving forward.
Chances were missed to save man who starved in Nottingham, report finds (theguardian.com)
DWP, GP surgery and social landlord failed to spot risks for Errol Graham, who had benefits cut despite being severely mentally ill.
Lessons Learned from Neil Jacobson (respectability.org)
Neil Jacobson was one of the earliest pioneers in Jewish disability inclusion and belonging. His grassroots advocacy and action in his own congregation became a call to action for other synagogues and Jewish organizations in the Reform movement and beyond. Neil’s influence and his teachings were infused with a love of Torah and the need to belong.
4 Ways to Build Inclusive Sports and Recreation Programs for Children with Disabilities (kit.org)
Ready to make disability inclusion a priority for sports and recreation programs for kids? Learn 4 key strategies and get the resources you need.
Judy Heumann Mentored the Next Generation of Disability Advocates (newmobility.com)
On an unseasonably warm day in February 2018, Judy Heumann and I met for lunch in Manhattan. Or, more accurately, I wasn’t particularly hungry but got to enjoy Judy’s company as she made a beeline for the nearest street food cart. She had her heart set on a “New York frankfurter,” which she loved. To be quite honest, I hate hot dogs, but her enthusiasm almost made me want to eat one. This was my first one-on-one time with Judy, known as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement.”
How to Be a Good Ally to Disabled People (wid.org)
The Oxford American Dictionary defines ‘ally’ as “a person or organization that actively supports the rights of a marginalized group without being a member of it.” The operative word here is ‘actively.’ Being a good ally to disabled people takes more than just supporting us with words. You should also take actionable steps to support marginalized people.
Autistic 11-year-old girl beats IQ scores of Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
An autistic 11-year-old girl has completed her masters and will soon be receiving the degree. The prodigy belongs to Mexico City and has an impressive IQ of 162.
Can Disabled People Be Truly Mentally Strong? (rockfordisability.com)
This follows me finding a viral article titled “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” and it made me think can disabled people really follow these steps in the same way despite their dependency on others and having to face practical and social barriers.
Anxiety and Technology: The Positive and Negative Effects (abilitynet.org.uk)
Technology has become an inseparable part of our lives. From socialising to paying bills, online shopping to online gaming, work, and education, we use technology for almost everything.
How to aid anxiety this Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 (abilitynet.org.uk)
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (15 - 21 May), and this year's theme is 'anxiety'.
Follow the Money! Understanding the Structural Incentives for Inequity in Health Care and Beyond (respectability.org)
This event which RespectAbility partnered on will feature speakers who are dismantling inequity within and beyond health care.
BT Sport and EE release Third Episode of New Signing documentary series (ablemagazine.co.uk)
The third episode of a new documentary series charting BT Sport and EE’s New Signing initiative will premiere during half time (3.45pm) of BT Sport Score this Saturday (13th May), on BT Sport 3, and is available now on BT Sport‘s and EE‘s YouTube channels.
Launch of ENILs´ proposal to the Commission Guidance on Independent Living (enil.eu)
At the end of 2023 the European Commission will adopt Guidance to Member States on Independent Living and inclusion in the community. For ENIL this is one of the most important policy initiatives within the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (ESRPD). We developed in-depth proposals which were presented at our launching event. A full recording is available here.
3 Ways to Help Your Disabled Child Get Through Exam Season (zacharyfenell.com)
Guest blogger Lisa Merlo (a mother, teacher, and foster carer) offers three ways to help your disabled child get through exam season.
Remembering Neil Jacobson (respectability.org)
A reflection on the life of disability activist Neil Jacobson from RespectAbility Faith Inclusion Fellow Noah Strauss.
‘The Good Doctor’ memes go viral, reigniting debate about autism portrayal (washingtonpost.com)
Among autism advocates and experts, opinions about the character of Dr. Shaun Murphy are mixed.
Worrying Rise In Lupus, Myositis Cases: Docs (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Doctors and health experts said there is an increased incidence of autoimmune diseases like lupus, myositis, lung fibrosis and blood clots in recent years.
'Why aren't you taking care of us?' Why long COVID patients struggle for solutions (pbs.org)
The very patients who live with long-term illness and no approved treatment after COVID infection feel they must fend for themselves, even as the United States declares an end to the COVID public health emergency.
Learning Sign Language with PopSign (m.youtube.com)
Learning sign language can be challenging, especially for new parents of deaf children. This year at I/O, we’re sharing an exciting new project that will hopefully make it easier. A group of students from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Rochester Institute of Technology are working with Google engineers and the Kaggle community to make learning Sign Language more accessible, and more fun using AI. Learn more: http://sites.gatech.edu/popsign For a quick recap of Google I/O, check out this video:
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#AudioEye Is Suing Me (adrianroselli.com)
On Wednesday March 8, 2023, a man who turned out to be a process server came to my house and delivered a stack of papers — a 30 page lawsuit from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP along with Buffalo-area firm Phillips Lytle LLP, both representing AudioEye, Inc.
Crip Up the Kitchen (disabilityvisibility.substack.com)
Can you smell what I'm cookin'?
Thousands of disabled people lost their vote at local elections, reports suggest (disabilitynewsservice.com)
Thousands of people with long-term health conditions are likely to have lost the right to vote in last week’s local elections in England, reports from campaigners suggest.
National ADAPT Confronts Republican Party’s Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and Housing (nationaladapt.org)
The Republicans proposed cuts to Medicaid and Housing will affect the lives of millions of people with disabilities around the country. Currently it is very difficult for people with disabilities to be able to obtain home and community-based services. Cuts to Medicaid will make it impossible for people to remain in the community and will be forced into unwanted more costly institutionalization. National ADAPT DEMANS that Mitch McConell, Kevin McCarthy, and others in the Republican party STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH OUT LIVES.
Worrying Rise In Lupus, Myositis Cases: Docs (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Doctors and health experts said there is an increased incide.
Why do we fear sharing personal joy on social media? (prismreports.org)
Gender, race, and disability affect who gets to express joy—and who gets punished for sharing it.
Docs with Disabilities (umich.qualtrics.com)
Docs with Disabilities is an interview-based podcast aimed at highlighting the experiences of health care providers with disabilities through critical conversations with the people working to ensure medicine remains an equal opportunity profession.
Hunny Bhagchandani (axschat.com)
Hunny Bhagchandani is a social innovator and entrepreneur who is passionate about empowering people with disabilities (PwD) with the power of independence. He is the founder of Torchit Electronics Pvt. Ltd., a company that develops affordable and innovative assistive devices for PwD, such as Saarthi, a mobility device for blind people. He is also a director of Dot Inc., a company that produces braille smartwatches.
Videopremiere „Jede*r für Jede*n“ im Wiener Rathaus (bizeps.or.at)
Wiener Gesundheitsförderung – WiG gibt mit Videoserie Einblick in Wiener Einrichtungen für Menschen mit Behinderungen und stellt Unterstützungsangebote vor.
Disability News and Mental Health, The Lost Boy (bbc.co.uk)
Noah, star of Disney's new Peter Pan and Wendy film, pays a visit.
Every Body Moves: ParalympicsGB & Toyota Launches New Sports Initiative (criplife.co.uk)
ParalympicsGB and Toyota have announced the launch of the groundbreaking Every Body Moves initiative to empower disabled people to become active in a way that is right for them.
Diversity Designs: Empowering Disabled Women Through Positive Imagery (criplife.co.uk)
Dr Joanna Baker-Rogers created Diversity Designs, a range of clothing and accessories that use empowering images of diverse women. Here, she tells us more about the brand and how it all started.
British Vogue releases its first braille edition (theguardian.com)
Titled Reframing Fashion, May’s magazine focuses on disability justice, accessibility and pride.
Barriers to Participation within Disability Sport (findingyourfeet.net)
Can you help a student researching any barriers to the participation within disability sport.
Lois Keith obituary (theguardian.com)
Writer, teacher and disability rights campaigner who challenged the barriers facing disabled women.
A Loud Connection: Film Review of Rain in my Head (respectability.org)
"Queer love receiving a happy ending is no small thing. For Rain in my Head, it is the happiness being the end destination that makes it work so well."
Mr Ableism Proposes to Dispose of Miss Cripple Using the Sarco Death Pod (talesfromthecrip.org)
The satirical article on Tales From the Crip pokes fun at the idea of hastened death and the privileges of the rich and able-bodied. It highlights the discrimination and prejudice faced by people with disabilities, especially in the healthcare system. The article imagines a scenario where a man proposes to a disabled woman using a Sarco Death Pod, implying that disability is a fate worse than death.
Alarming WHO report reveals 1 in 3 children overweight in the european region (disabilityinsider.com)
The WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022, was launched by the spouses of 16 European leaders and Heads of State, in the Croatian capital.
Eurovision represents everything that is nonsensically termed ‘woke’ – that’s what makes it so special (theguardian.com)
The high-camp contest, hosted this year by the UK on Ukraine’s behalf, is diverse, unifying, tolerant – all things we need more of.
A Google employee's screed against diversity is going viral within the company (mashable.com)
The engineer argues for ideological diversity.
How a nuclear war in Korea could start, and how it might end (economist.com)
Everyone would lose.
Google Employee's Anti-Diversity Manifesto Goes 'Internally Viral' (vice.com)
"It's not worth thinking about this as an isolated incident and instead a manifestation of what ails all of Silicon Valley."
Laurie Penny | Life-Hacks of the Poor and Aimless (thebaffler.com)
On negotiating the false idols of neoliberal self-care.
Families of Those Lost to Covid Wrestle With Mixed Emotions as Emergency Ends (nytimes.com)
More than 1.1 million Americans have died of Covid. An official end to the health emergency has landed in complicated ways for those affected most acutely.
Masks come off in the last refuge for mandates: The doctor’s office (washingtonpost.com)
Some infectious-disease specialists have concluded that universal masking is no longer essential in medical settings, a stark return to pre-covid life.
There's a new leadership program empowering young women and non-binary locals with disability (fortemag.com.au)
Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) have announced the Enabling Young Women Leadership Program and are looking for participants.
Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise in Small Trial (nytimes.com)
Using mRNA tailored to each patient’s tumor, the vaccine may have staved off the return of one of the deadliest forms of cancer in half of those who received it.
Can California find better paying jobs for people with disabilities? (calmatters.org)
California banned paying subminimum wages to workers with disabilities. Now will it help them get jobs?
21 of the Best Films, Books, and Shows Spotlighting Experiences of Disability (vogue.com)
From Oscar-winning documentaries and brilliant books to history-making films, hilarious shows, and graphic novels.
What does it mean to be neurodiverse in medicine? (scopeblog.stanford.edu)
Stanford Medicine neurodiversity and autism expert Lawrence Fung discusses what it means to be neurodiverse in medicine.
It's Stuttering Awareness Week. Nina G's comedy album drops 12 tracks of education (48hills.org)
Micro-aggressions 'just go right into my act,' says the Alameda-born stand-up.
God of Carnage (facebook.com)
David Burtka and Carey Cox – Discussing the Off-Broadway production of “God of Carnage” on Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto!
Anambra Students Create Smart Walking Sticks For The Blind (channelstv.com)
The Smart Sticks were reviewed by some visually impaired persons at the event to show the product's effectiveness.
Creating an Inclusive Education System (ablemagazine.co.uk)
The Disability Policy Centre invites you to join leading experts from the disability and education communities.
Bright M Bwalya (axschat.com)
My name is Bright M Bwalya, a 30-year, Software Engineer, Mental Health and Epilepsy Advocate. I have a strong passion for Epilepsy & Mental Health Advocacy, with a strong desire to use technology to address common issues in many chronic conditions noticed here in Zambia.
Alexa Child, Jacqueline Child (axschat.com)
Alexa Child: Alexa, co-founder of Dateability, graduated from Georgetown Law in 2015 and currently works as a public interest attorney. Through witnessing her sister’s experience with disability, Alexa has become an advocate and ally for the disability community. She is passionate about social justice, enjoys TV and film, and loves all things Halloween.
How A First-Grader With Cerebral Palsy Helped Make His Playground More Inclusive (disabilityscoop.com)
Unable to do much more than watch at his school's brand-new playground, a 7-year-old spoke out and now changes are in the works to help ensure that equipment at his school and others is more accessible.
Disability Attitudes We Face In Society (criplife.co.uk)
Many disabled people face discriminatory, ableist and patronising attitudes and comments almost on a daily basis. It can affect their confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing. Here, we share Emma Purcell's radio documentary on disability attitudes.
A Heart-felt Apology and a Chance to Start Again (nfb.org)
AccessiBe founder Shir apologizes for the company's past actions and resistance to feedback from the Federation and disability rights activists. Shir takes responsibility for the company's improper reactions and emphasizes the importance of accessibility and inclusion for all individuals. AccessiBe has made significant changes such as employee training and disability history workshops and remains committed to inclusion both internally and externally.
Crisis response for refugee children with disability: New book published (enil.eu)
Jamie Bolling is at the Nordic Network Disability Research conference (NNDR) to talk about refugee children with disability and the work done during the Independent Living Institute’s project.
UK BSL Poet Laureate: Kabir Kapoor (bda.org.uk)
Last week, we shared the exciting news that we had chosen a winner and two runners-up for our BSL Poet Laureate competition 2023. You have been waiting patiently, but now we can share their poems with you!
We need good support to live independently - Report about a self-advocacy conference in Hungary (inclusion-europe.eu)
The Hungarian Association of Persons with Intellectual Disability (ÉFOÉSZ) organised a self-advocacy conference on the European Independent Living Day. 70 persons with intellectual disability and supporters celebrated in person and many joined online. The speakers were self-advocates from Hungary and Austria, including board members of Inclusion Europe and Steering Group members of the European Platform of Self-Advocates (EPSA).
What Candace Owens Needs to Understand About Her Ableist Comments (themighty.com)
Let's show her just "how far we're going to take this inclusivity thing."
Amazon turn Veterans Centre into Alexa-enabled ‘smart centre’ (abilitynet.org.uk)
Blind Veterans UK, in collaboration with Amazon, has unveiled a new ‘smart’ system at its centre in Llandudno, Wales which uses Alexa devices to give veterans more independence, and carers new ways to communicate.
Free webinar: How to improve accessibility in procurement (abilitynet.org.uk)
A recent survey by AbilityNet found that there is a lack of relevant accessibility processes when buying digital products and services.
Partner Spotlight: Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative (respectability.org)
The Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative seeks to bring a haven for Asian Americans with disabilities online and in person.
Claiming Disability Podcast (open.spotify.com)
Erin Noon Kay is the CEO & Founder of Claiming Disability LLC. Erin identifies a "fierce disabled entrepreneurial woman," with Cerebral Palsy. She uses a walker and wheelchair occasionally, but she believes it's "OK" to look disabled and is working hard to bring representation for disability in film and everyday culture through media projects and disability related content. She believes "disabled," is NOT is a bad word, but a badge of honor, a beautiful community, a culture. She has worked in the non-profit, governmental, and business sector for over 10 years.
Hong Kong sees almost double fatal and severe Covid-19 cases in a week (thethaiger.com)
Hong Kong sees rise in severe Covid-19 cases, experts urge caution but highlight low death rates relative to daily infections.
Fitting in (haveyoutriedwalkinglately.wordpress.com)
The author describes their struggles of finding a job that accommodates their wheelchair and paper handlers. They had job opportunities but were constantly turned down due to their disability. They eventually found a job that fit them perfectly, and they now feel comfortable, independent, and like they "fit in."
Feds Want To Shake Up Rules For Home And Community-Based Services (disabilityscoop.com)
Federal Medicaid officials are proposing major changes aimed at improving access to home and community-based services for people with disabilities and bolstering the DSP workforce.
How to Better Recruit Candidates with Disabilities (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
To recruit workers with disabilities can bring tremendous benefits to your company, including expanding your talent pool.
Resumes that impress — no matter your background (diverseabilitymagazine.com)
When you’re looking for a job, your resume is a chance to sell yourself to a potential employer, no matter your background.
BrailleDoodle: a New York Teacher Invents Something to Change Everything (blindnewworld.org)
Teacher Daniel Lubiner invented the BrailleDoodle, a tactile learning device, to empower blind students in science, math and art.
Research shows youth suicide attempts, depression spiked amid the COVID-19 pandemic (journalistsresource.org)
Two meta-analyses synthesize the findings of a combined 95 studies on suicide attempts, depression and anxiety among kids in 2021 and 2022.
One million annual deaths caused by premature births: UN (disabilityinsider.com)
An estimated 13.4 million babies were born premature in 2020, with nearly a million dying from pre-term complications, according to Born too soon: Decade of action on preterm birth.
Strengthening skills and support: Funding boost to tackle violence against women with disabilities (disabilityinsider.com)
Workers in the family violence prevention and disability sectors will be better equipped with the skills to prevent violence against women with disabilities thanks to a funding boost to Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV).
Airline Plans to Offer Hourly Bed Rentals to Coach Passengers (wheelchairtravel.org)
Air New Zealand will permit economy class passengers on ultra long-haul flights to the USA to rent a bunk bed for a portion of the flight.
Feds Want To Shake Up Rules For Home And Community-Based Services (disabilityscoop.com)
Federal Medicaid officials are proposing major changes aimed at improving access to home and community-based services for people with disabilities and bolstering the DSP workforce.
Being Black and Disabled in Public Should Not Be a Death Sentence (autisticadvocacy.org)
Jordan Neely, a 30-year old unhoused Black man, was killed by another New York subway passenger last week. His family has reported that Neely was autistic and also experienced mental health disabilities. Neely was showing apparent distress when another passenger put him in a chokehold for 15 minutes, killing him.
Painting with No Hands (youtube.com)
After a traumatic car accident, Glen started painting and didn't give up. See more of her art @byglenneisha.
Ellie Cole was told she wasn't 'disabled enough’ to represent Paralympians. Here’s her response. (mamamia.com.au)
The Para-swimmer has won the most medals of any Aussie of all time.
Annie has gone but her legacy and fighting spirit live on (theage.com.au)
Just last week Annie McDonald was perched in her wheelchair in the spring sunshine at a favourite haunt, the beer garden at the Peacock Hotel in Northcote.
‘Lifesaving’ Treatment Found For Postpartum Bleeding—The Leading Cause Of Maternal Deaths (forbes.com)
Researcher Professor Arri Coomarasamy hailed the procedure as a major breakthrough that could “radically improve women’s chances of surviving childbirth globally.”
Millions of people have long COVID brain fog — and there's a shortage of answers (npr.org)
Psychologist James Jackson says people with long COVID experience impaired brain function and mental health issues. He offers some practical advice and support in his new book, Clearing the Fog.
ILMI - Independent Living Movement Ireland (ilmi.ie)
A National Voice for Independent Living in Ireland. ILMI are working collectively to create an Independent Living Movement in Ireland led by disabled people.
Down to the Struts: Remembering Judy Heumann (podcasts.apple.com)
Sendung Down to the Struts, Folge Remembering Judy Heumann – 10. Mai 2023
Rethinking Mass Trauma: When You Have a Personal Connection to Community Violence (themighty.com)
"With the increase in frequency of mass shootings and other community-scale violence, we need to be far more mindful of the impact of these events on the wellbeing of everyone, not just those experiencing it firsthand."
2023 Artist Development Programmes: A Guide to Decisions on the final line up (cripticarts.org)
CRIPtic has announced the artists joining our 2023 programme. We wanted to reflect on the factors that played into our decisions.
Announcing our CRIPtic 2023 Artists! (cripticarts.org)
CRIPtic Arts is thrilled to announce 16 incredible artists who’ll be joining Artist Development programmes in 2023 & 2024.
Baseball Team Says Disabled Fans Not Entitled to "Best Seats in the House" (wheelchairtravel.org)
An attorney for the Chicago Cubs presented a morally bankrupt argument — that disabled people should have no expectation of equal access.
Time-Outs for One-Year-Olds? Ignore this Parenting Advice (monadelahooke.com)
As a child psychologist, I have seen the developmental difficulties babies can suffer when they don’t receive responsive care.
Personal assistance in Slovenia and the problem of understanding Independent Living (enil.eu)
Why has there been such a departure from the original intent of Personal Assistance Act in 2019.
ENIL launches results of its 2nd Independent Living Survey (enil.eu)
On May 5th, the Independent Living Day, ENIL presented the results of its second Independent Living Survey to its members, representatives of civil society organisations and policy makers from the European Commission and the European Parliament. You can read summaries of the speaker´s remarks below, download the presentations or watch the events´ recording.
Should inaccessible art be made? (cripticarts.org)
What level of access provision is the minimum acceptable for disabled audiences, and what should happen when projects don't provide it?
Meet the 2023 CRIPtic Artists (cripticarts.org)
We're delighted to launch our 2023 Artists. Meet our 2023 Cohort of Artist for Breakthrough, Incubate, Launchpad and Reach!
When Should Women Get Regular Mammograms? At 40, U.S. Panel Now Says. (nytimes.com)
The new advice comes as breast cancer diagnoses rise among younger women and mortality rates among Black women remain persistently high.
'They're everywhere': Why touchscreens are causing huge accessibility problems for blind people (9news.com.au)
Nadia Mattiazzo remembers going to her regular café one day back in 2016 and trying to buy a cup of coffee.
Google Is Using AI to Make Hearing Aids More Personalized (wired.com)
A new partnership between Google and an Australian hearing coalition is using machine intelligence to improve the customizability of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The tragic deaths the British press is reluctant to cover (cjr.org)
Errol Graham, a disabled man designated by the British government as highly vulnerable, failed to turn up for a welfare assessment. Graham was a fifty-seven-year-old grandfather living in Nottingham, England. He had been a keen amateur soccer player in his younger years, but was now suffering mental distress and severe anxiety and had been getting a payment known as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), for people whose disabilities make it hard for them to hold down work.
7 reasons why Along ♥️ teachers (educatingalllearners.org)
Hip, hip, hooray! Teacher Appreciation Week is here and we can’t wait to share all of the special reasons why we love teachers. But first, we want to acknowledge how busy teachers truly are. From lesson-planning to extracurriculars, it’s no surprise that you’re often juggling a million tasks at once. We created Along with the intention of making your life a little easier. If you don’t have time to check in with your students individually in class, our connection tool gives you the flexibility to strengthen your relationships when it’s convenient.
Opportunities and investment to support persons with disabilities (disabilityinsider.com)
This year’s Budget is focused on creating opportunities that more Australians share in and ensuring that the services we rely on remain strong and sustainable into the future.
Robert Andy Coombs - Gay Disabled Photographer Exploring Disability and Sexuality. (robertandycoombs.com)
The sexual adventures of a gay quadriplegic photographer.
Use this 3-word response when someone is rude to you, says Harvard-trained etiquette expert (cnbc.com)
When a friend makes a joke at your expense or lobs a "playful" insult your way, it can be hard to know how to proceed.
How people with disabilities feel about Biden's executive order aimed at improving long-term care (wbur.org)
The order seeks to increase the numbers and support for the people who provide care for seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicaid.
Autismus im Kindergarten - wie Teilhabe gelingen kann / wie das neue Buch zu Ellas Blog entstand (ellasblog.de)
Es ist immer wieder eine spannende Sache, wenn ein neues Buch den Weg in die Veröffentlichung findet. So auch mit dem aktuellen Buch „Autismus im Kindergarten – wie Teilhabe gelingen kann“.
Größere Räume und Internetanschluss in niedersächsischen Einrichtungen (kobinet-nachrichten.org)
Zum 1. Oktober 2022 ist die Verordnung über bauliche Anforderungen für unterstützende Einrichtungen nach dem Niedersächsischen Gesetz über unterstützende Wohnformen (NuWGBauVO) in Kraft getreten. Die Verordnung regelt die baulichen Anforderungen an Einrichtungen wie Heime für ältere, pflegebedürftige Menschen oder Menschen mit Behinderungen in Niedersachsen. Sämtliche Neubauten müssen künftig nach den neuen Standards gebaut werden, bereits existierende Einrichtungen müssen grundsätzlich spätestens bis zum 1. Januar 2033 entsprechend der neuen Standards nachgerüstet werden. Unter anderem müssen die Wohnschlafräume von Wohneinheiten für eine Person zukünftig mindestens 14 Quadratmeter Platz bieten, zuvor waren (laut den bisherigen Vorgaben des Bundes in der Heimmindestbauverordnung) 12 Quadratmeter vorgegeben. Zudem muss zukünftig der Zugang zum Internet sichergestellt werden.
Altersdiskriminierung verstößt gegen geltendes Recht (kobinet-nachrichten.org)
Die Unabhängige Beauftragte für Antidiskriminierung, Ferda Ataman, hat ein entschiedeneres Eintreten gegen Altersdiskriminierung in Deutschland angemahnt. "Diese Form von Diskriminierung wird noch immer unterschätzt, weil Vorbehalte tief sitzen und diskriminierendes Verhalten oft als normal gesehen wird“, sagte Ferda Ataman. Anlässlich des "Tags der älteren Menschen“ am 1. Oktober wies sie darauf hin, dass Diskriminierungen aufgrund des Lebensalters nach dem Allgemeinen Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) im Arbeitsleben sowie bei Alltagsgeschäften grundsätzlich verboten sind.
Warum ich das nicht können muss, aber schaffen will – Gedanken einer pflegenden Mutter zum europäischen Tag der pflegenden Angehörigen (kaiserinnenreich.de)
Die Geburt meines Sohnes hat mich zu einer pflegenden Angehörigen gemacht. Vor etwas mehr als sechs Jahren wurde ich eine pflegende Mama. Keiner erzählt werdenden Müttern, dass es pflegebedürftige Kinder gibt. Man klärt uns über das Ende auf, aber nicht über den Anfang. Man klärt uns darüber auf, dass wir Kinder mit Behinderung heutzutage nicht mehr bekommen müssen. Man klärt uns über Abtreibung und Pränataldiagnostik auf, aber nicht über ein gemeinsames Leben mit unserem Kind, das eine Behinderung hat.
Treffen der G7-Behindertenbeauftragten in Berlin (behindertenbeauftragter.de)
Themen beim ersten „G7 Global Inclusion Summit“: die Verbesserung der Gesundheitsversorgung von Menschen mit Behinderungen, Digitalisierung und künstliche Intelligenz, Klimaschutz- und Klimaanpassungsmaßnahmen.
Zur Sache Baden-Württemberg: Für die Seele fehlen Ärzte (ardmediathek.de)
Etwa jeder vierte Erwachsene ist von einer psychischen Erkrankung betroffen. Aber viele müssen im Schnitt fünf Monate auf einen Therapieplatz warten.
Interview zur Reihe einfach POLITIK (portaleinfach.org)
Wo wird Politik einfach erklärt? Wo findet man leicht verständlich, was hinter dem Krieg gegen die Ukraine steckt? Wo steht, was Antisemitismus oder Verschwörungstheorien bedeuten? All diese Auskünfte gibt uns einfach POLITIK von der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb. Verantwortlich für dieses Projekt sind Wolfram Hilpert (bpb) und Dr. Dorothee Meyer (Leibniz Universität Hannover).
Mentoring-Programm (neuemedienmacher.de)
Ohne Nachwuchs keine Vielfalt: Wir fördern junge Journalist:innen auf ihrem Weg in die Medien.
Takis Mehmet Ali über Belange von Menschen mit Behinderung (youtube.com)
Was tut eigentlich die Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderung? Darüber haben wir mit Takis Mehmet Ali (SPD) gesprochen_________________...
LVR: „Pressemitteilung des Landesbehindertenrates absurd“ (lvr.de)
Eine Planung von vier neuen Förderschulen im Rheinland wurde nicht beschlossen / Bevölkerungsentwicklung erfordert neuen Schulraum / LVR bekennt sich klar zur Inklusion und UN-BRK.