Accessibility News Archives 2010

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January

Web Accessibility Myths

Date posted to site: January 30, 2010

There is a lot of good advice for the discerning web developer to find on the web on how to make a website accessible, unfortunately there is also plenty of bad or outdated advice out there as well. Here are a few of the myths of accessibility that you may hear.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=184

Dartmouth University Establishes New Student Disability Group to Talk About Campus Access

Date posted to site: January 29, 2010

Access By Leadership in Equity - a new student organization seeking to raise awareness about students with disabilities - has launched efforts to facilitate greater campus dialogue about accessibility in its first weeks in existence, according to co-directors Emily Broas '11 and Rebecca Gotlieb '12.

ABLE's goals include providing a peer-to-peer support network for students with disabilities, raising awareness about both visible and invisible disabilities, and improving College accommodations for these students by serving as a voice for the community.

Municipal Bylaws Must Follow Human Rights Code: OMB

Date posted to site: January 28, 2010

CNW/ - Municipalities have to consider the needs of everyone - including people with disabilities or on social assistance - when making bylaws. The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) made that ruling late last week, saying "municipalities - and this Board - are bound by the (Human Rights) Code."

Is Web Accessibility a Human Right?

Date posted to site: January 28, 2010

The Web is now so tightly integrated into our society that it's second nature to obtain employment, access education, do commerce, get information, get entertainment and even build social relationships online. If the Web is now a permanent and integral part of our society, then is denying a group of people access to much of the Web a form of discrimination and a denial of a human right?

Police Taken by Surprise as Visually Impaired Block Road

Date posted to site: January 28, 2010

Visually-challenged protestors blocked the road outside BMC headquarters, in front of Azad Maidan, for almost two hours on Monday, to press for their demands of jobs in government and semi-government organisations.

Sweeping Settlement Reached by the City of Oakland to Include People with Disabilities in Disaster Planning

Date posted to site: January 27, 2010

OAKLAND, Calif. – In a sweeping settlement announced today by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and the City of Oakland, Oakland has agreed to adopt an emergency plan which incorporates the needs of people with all types of disabilities.

Angled Intersection Presents Challenges

Date posted to site: January 27, 2010

operations committee is recommending a traffic count in the village of Killaloe to determine if the minimum criteria for traffic signal installation is satisfied.

As previously reported in The Daily Observer, the county's accessibility advisory committee recommended a specialized traffic light for the village at the intersection of County Road 512 (Queen Street) and Lake Street be installed for safety reasons. The intersection has some unique properties as it essentially includes McCarthy's Lane and Water Street. The multiple intersections don't meet at a typical 90 degrees. Some of the intersections are offset, some come in at angles, while Queen Street features a curve at that point and is situated at the top of a hill.

Service Dog Helps Woman Fight Mental Illness

Date posted to site: January 25, 2010

Jennifer Francis has a disability and requires a service dog - but there's nothing wrong with her sight, hearing or limbs.

CNIB off Base in Bid for Government Cash

Date posted to site: January 23, 2010

The CNIB -- once known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind -- wants the B.C. government to hand over $624,000 because of what it calls inequities in library funding for Canadians.

It's hard to say no to the CNIB, because the charity has a wonderful reputation. But let's hope that the provincial government does its homework on this request.

The facts do not support the CNIB's argument.

McKeever 1st Paralympian to Compete in Winter Olympics

Date posted to site: January 23, 2010

Visually impaired cross-country skier's dream comes true

Visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever is about to make history.

The 30-year-old Canmore, Alta., native has been named to Team Canada, becoming the first Paralympian to compete in a Winter Olympics.

Chihuahua Human Rights Case Dismissed

Date posted to site: January 23, 2010

Alex Allarie says his service dog, a chihuahua Dee-O-Gee, helps him cope with his anxiety and depression, a psychiatric disability. (CBC)A fight over a chihuahua described as a disabled man's service dog has been dismissed by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

Accessibility Challenges Still Ahead for Port Hope

Date posted to site: January 22, 2010

-The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) is asking for council's assistance to make Port Hope a more accessible community for all who live there and for those who visit.

Student Failed Exam, but Reinstated on Basis of Extreme Anxiety, Professor Says; Clinical problem that can affect functioning

Date posted to site: January 22, 2010

A University of Manitoba professor is alleging a doctoral candidate twice failed his comprehensive examination, then appealed to be reinstated on the basis that he suffers from the disability of extreme examination anxiety.

Career Watch: The Disabled as IT Workers

Date posted to site: January 22, 2010

Neil Jacobson, the founder and CEO of Abilicorp discusses the fit between Information Technology (IT) and people with disabilities and it how it could potentially influence hiring decisions in enterprise environments

In what ways are people with disabilities superior employees?

Toronto Community Housing to make buildings more accessible

Date posted to site: January 21, 2010

When Penny Lamy moved into her new accessible apartment in Regent Park last September, it was, she said, "like a fog lifted." "I feel like I've had a fog lifted since I finally got settled," said Lamy, who must use an electric wheelchair to move around. "Other tenants are really excited there as well."

Lawyers Say Justice not Being Served

Date posted to site: January 21, 2010

"Complete hogwash and double-speak."

That's the reaction of Brockville lawyer John Johnston to a Monday press release from Legal Aid Ontario announcing increased "access points" for local services despite the anticipated closure of legal aid offices in Brockville and Perth.

Johnston said plans for a toll-free telephone number and expanded court services mask the true intentions of the provincial government to cut costs and jobs by closing local legal aid offices.

Election Rules Restrict VP Equity Bid

Date posted to site: January 20, 2010

When buttons and posters are your only costs, the $250 student campaign budget is more than enough in the Ryerson Students' Union (RSU) elections. But for David Fourney, who may need to hire a sign language interpreter if he runs for vice-president equity, it means discrimination.

Graduate Student's iPhone App Gives Voice to Disabled Users

Date posted to site: January 20, 2010

Not many iPhone applications get reviews that call them life-changing.

Samuel Sennott, a doctoral student in special educaton at Pennsylvania State University's main campus, created an iPhone application that helps people with communication disabilities speak. He worked with David Niemeijer, an Amsterdam-based developer, to build the software, called Proloquo2Go.

Universities Avoid Kindle Over Accessibility Barriers

Date posted to site: January 20, 2010

Three US universities have agreed not to use Amazon's e-book reader the Kindle until it is easily usable by blind people. A fourth settled a complaint from blind people's advocacy groups by saying that it will strive to use accessible devices in future.

Makati Turns Over Facilities for Special Kids to DepEd

Date posted to site: January 20, 2010

More children with special needs are expected to be served in Makati City as the city government has turned over its state-of-the-art Special Education (SPED) Center building to DepEd-Makati which would provide them greater access to formal education.

Frustration of Employment Contracts - A little care can save you both frustration and pain.

Date posted to site: January 19, 2010

This article should be of interest to anyone who has to draw employment agreements. It has some very good suggestions on how to deal with some situations that can become very difficult and expensive for employers.

Managing disability in the workplace remains one of the most challenging areas of employment law for managers, HR professionals and lawyers alike. A common - and difficult - question is how long can an employee be off work due to illness or injury before an employer can safely terminate the employment relationship without liability?

Who Will Pay for Province's Generous Plan for Full Accessibility?

Date posted to site: January 18, 2010

With the draft report finally in and before Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur, Toronto taxi industry leaders say the high standards of accessible service called for in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) must be supported by government funding.

Disabled Worshippers Struggle with Accessibility Issues at Church

Date posted to site: January 18, 2010

Among the most humbling moments being confined to an electric wheelchair came when Shawana Bulloch realized it could prevent her from attending services at her Savannah church.

Tips for Webmasters: Improve Your Websites' Accessibility

Date posted to site: January 16, 2010

By Geof Collis
Badeyes Design & Consulting
January 16, 2010

In anticipation of the upcoming Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Information and Communications Standard, I have put together some tips for Webmasters on how to make your website accessible.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=18

Cedar Hill Bylaw Violates Rights of Poor and Disabled, Municipal Board Says

Date posted to site: January 16, 2010

KITCHENER-A city bylaw that aims to clean up a downtown neighbourhood violates the rights of poor and disabled people and must be changed, says a provincial tribunal.

Senior Says Strollers Make buses unsafe

Date posted to site: January 15, 2010

BARRIE - Disrespectful young mothers with strollers are making Barrie Transit a hostile and unsafe environment for mobility-impaired seniors, says frequent rider Kay Gibson, 69.

"They are scared to go out and get on the bus because of the jostling and because they can't sit at the front," she says, having heard from many neighbours in her Blake Street seniors' residence.

It's Easy to Balance the Books at UPEI Ignoring Human Rights

Date posted to site: January 15, 2010

Wade MacLauchlan should be trying to expand the boundaries of accessibility at University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) we are fighting a battle that is so basic it was won decades ago in other places. If they can't get to class Wade, you aren't making UPEI accessible.

I was glad to learn last week that UPEI has a final solution for the disabled parking problem. They have installed one disabled spot within 6 feet of the McDougall building.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities, A Call For Action

Date posted to site: January 14, 2010

Prime Minister Harper has prorogued the House of Commons. A new session will begin March 4th and a new session means a Throne Speech and a Budget.

Members of Parliament will be spending more time in their constituency offices in January and February. NOW is the perfect time for us to ensure that they know the priorities of Canadians with disabilities.

2011 Toyota Sienna To Feature Optional Auto Access Seat

Date posted to site: January 14, 2010

From Edmunds Inside Line - Toyota upped the ante in the minivan market on Monday at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show by rolling out an Auto Access Seat on its 2011 Sienna minivan that should make life easier for people with disabilities. The option will be available in February, but pricing has not been announced.

Township Investigates Electronic Voting

Date posted to site: January 13, 2010

Elizabethtown- Kitley Township voters may get the chance to cast their votes electronically this coming election.

Council determined at its regular meeting Monday night to have township staff do costing on both telephone and Internet voting.

"This is a pure accessibility issue," township administrator-clerk Yvonne Robert told council.

The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) recommends municipalities incorporate more than one method of casting a ballot.

As "Reading" Evolves, Braille is Pushed Aside for Audio Books

Date posted to site: January 13, 2010

At 4 o'clock each morning, Laura J. Sloate begins her daily reading. She calls a phone service that reads newspapers aloud in a synthetic voice, and she listens to The Wall Street Journal at 300 words a minute, which is nearly twice the average pace of speech. Later, an assistant reads The Financial Times to her while she uses her computer's text-to-speech system to play The Economist aloud. She devotes one ear to the paper and the other to the magazine.

Illiterates, Disabled Voters May Be AssistedBy E.T.

Date posted to site: January 12, 2010

Stressing that even illiterate or persons with disability cannot be deprived of their right of suffrage, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled that in the May 10, 2010, fully automated polls, these persons may be assisted in the preparation of their ballots either by a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or by any person of his confidence who belongs to the same household.

Accessibility Group Gets Small Pay Raise

Date posted to site: January 11, 2010

Volunteers with the Perth County accessibility advisory committee will be paid more to attend meetings in 2010.

Perth County councillors approved paying the volunteers $97.71 a meeting -- the standard council committee rate for meeting which last less than three hours -- to a maximum of six meetings a year.

Blindness Organizations and Arizona State University Resolve Litigation Over Kindle

Date posted to site: January 11, 2010

PHOENIX, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), and Arizona State University (ASU), today announced a settlement agreement resolving litigation filed by NFB and ACB against the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and ASU.

CBC Radio1 Ottawa Interviews Minister Meilleur on the Customer Care Standard

Date posted to site: January 09, 2010

By Geof Collis

On December 31, 2009 CBC Radio1 Ottawa interviewed Minister Meilleur regarding the then soon to become Law Customer Care Standard. I was also interviewd after she spoke, you can listen to the interview or download it.

Air Canada Told to Provide Nut-Free zone

Date posted to site: January 08, 2010

Air Canada has been told to create a special "buffer zone" on flights for people who are allergic to nuts.

The Canadian Transportation Agency has ruled that passengers who have nut allergies should be considered disabled and accommodated by the airline. The CTA has advised Air Canada to come up with an appropriate section of seats where passengers with nut allergies would be seated.

More barriers drop

Date posted to site: January 07, 2010

Removing service barriers for people with disabilities means much more than simply making sure buildings are accessible, says a member of the mayor's disability advisory committee.

"Yes, ramps are important but it really goes way beyond ramps," said Ian Greaves, of Niagara Falls.

The main focus, he said, is education and a new government standard that came into effect Jan. 1 is a step in the right direction.

Is ADHD Protected Under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Date posted to site: January 07, 2010

The answer to the question is somewhat long and complicated. So we will begin with writing that while someone with ADHD may qualify for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act, not everyone with the diagnosis of ADHD will qualify. And that may include you or your child.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was established by Congress in 1990. The purpose of the Act is to end discrimination against persons with disabilities when it comes to housing, education, public transportation, recreation, health services, voting, and access to public services. It also aims to provide equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The ADA was written to offer protections to individuals with disabilities, not individuals with any particular diagnosis. The Americans with Disabilities Act seeks to protect individuals with significant impairments in function.

Sledge Hockey: At the Age of 56, Joe Tavares is Preparing for the Ontario ParaSport Winter Games

Date posted to site: January 07, 2010

Way back in 1969, a hardworking nurse gave Joe Tavares an idea at a rehab centre for disabled children in Toronto.

Little did he know it would be a life-altering moment.

Public Buildings to be Accessible in 2010

Date posted to site: January 05, 2010

As of the New Year, Muskoka's public sector offices will be more accessible for people with disabilities. It's the law.

The first deadline set by the provincial Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2005 applies to public sector institutions and is coming up on Jan. 1. Muskoka's towns, townships and school boards that haven't already completed the necessary steps are working hard to get them done on time.

Dementia Crisis Looms, study finds

Date posted to site: January 05, 2010

Preventive, coping measures urged by Alzheimer Society

It is feared Canada may have 1.1 million dementia sufferers by 2038.

OTTAWA - A new study by the Alzheimer Society of Canada says the country urgently needs a strategy to minimize the impact of the Baby Boomers' march toward dementia.

The study, Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society, suggests that 1.1 million Canadians will have Alzheimer's disease, or a related dementia, by 2038.

Mail-in Votes Spell End to Ballot Boxes in Essex County

Date posted to site: January 04, 2010

For the first time, every municipality in Essex County will use vote by mail rather than traditional ballot boxes at multitudes of polling stations during the 2010 municipal election.

Making a Brighter Future: SPARC BC Enthused Over The Accessible Community Bylaws Guide

Date posted to site: January 04, 2010

Do you ever wonder what your community will look like 25 years from now? This century has seen many changes with regards to accessibility awareness and city planning, and some of the biggest change has occurred in the past 10 years.

There is growing interest around accessibility legislation, and in British Columbia, SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) has just released a guide to accessibility bylaws it hopes will be a hit with municipalities.

Dad Fears for Daughter in Face of Disability Cutbacks

Date posted to site: January 04, 2010

An Alberta father fears budgetary cuts to organizations that assist people with disabilities will put his daughter's future in jeopardy.

In December, the provincial government announced it was cutting about $12 million in funding to people with disabilities. The province blamed those cuts on the economic downturn.

Customer Care Standard is now Law but Still Lacks Teeth

Date posted to site: January 02, 2010

By Geof Collis

In case you don't already know, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act(AODA) Customer Care Standard became law on January 1st, 2010.

Now those living with disabilities in Ontario woke up to a much more accessible Province. Or did they?

New Rules Aim to Help Ontarians with Disabilities

Date posted to site: January 02, 2010

A new law took effect Friday in Ontario regulating how public bodies provide customer service to people with disabilities, part of a broader push to have the province be completely accessible by 2025.

But the new standards, which will eventually apply to the private sector as well, fall short of the changes that people with disabilities need to eliminate barriers in their day-to-day lives, several advocates said.

Web More Accessible to Those with Disabilities

Date posted to site: January 02, 2010

In an effort to promote universal standards, the World Wide Web Consortium developed a set of guidelines for how an accessible site should look. They include providing text alternatives for images, providing captions for audio and video, and enabling all-keyboard navigation.

However, only a small portion of Web content meets the basic requirements for easy navigation, said Judy Brewer, director of the consortium's efforts.

"Most of us working in the Web accessibility field almost always find some level of accessibility barriers in Web sites. Businesses are doing better than they were doing some years ago, but there's still massive room for improvement," she said.

Disability Suit Targets University of Tennessee

Date posted to site: January 01, 2010

A Tennessee man and a South Florida advocacy group for people with disabilities are suing the University of Tennessee in federal court over what they say is a lack of equal access for disabled people to events held at Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium.

City ready for new accessibility standard

Date posted to site: January 01, 2010

The City of Belleville is fully prepared for Ontario's first accessibility standard when it comes into force Friday, says the chairman of the accessibility committee.

Read nmore at
http://www.aoda.ca/?p=276

Back to Table of Contents

February

Calling all Accessibility Advisory Committees (AAC) of Ontario, your voice needs to be heard!

Date posted to site: February 26, 2010

With the uneven implementation of the Customer Care Standard in School Boards, Hospitals and a broad range of community services and the absence of any meaningful enforcement mechanism, it is more important than ever that your voices be heard

City Council Chambers equipped to serve people with hearing loss

Date posted to site: February 26, 2010

Burlington City Council Chambers is now fitted with new assistive listening devices to accommodate people with hearing loss. Small, cordless, battery operated receivers are available during council and standing committee meetings to help people hear the proceedings more clearly.

"Our goal is to ensure Burlington is a place where all people, regardless of their ability, can fully access programs and services offered by our city. Ensuring that our facilities meet the needs of all citizens is important to sustaining a vibrant society, and enhancing customer service and direct citizen engagement," said Mayor Cam Jackson.

Accessibility Being Tackled in Chatham-Kent

Date posted to site: February 26, 2010

Members of the Chatham-Kent accessibility advisory committee were congratulated at the Feb. 8 council meeting upon the submission of their 2010-2011 terms of reference.

The committee was created in 2002, and Coun. Marjorie Crew said, "if you look at the list of things they have accomplished and done over the last few years, it's quite amazing."

Businesses Honoured for Accessibility

Date posted to site: February 26, 2010

Area businesses and individuals were honoured for making the community more accessible on Tuesday.

The Chatham-Kent Accessibility Advisory Committee handed out its annual awards at the Thames Campus Arena.

Proposed US Law Would Force Product Accessibility

Date posted to site: February 26, 2010

Manufacturers and suppliers of consumer technology devices in the US could be forced to make all their products accessible to blind consumers, if proposed legislation is passed by Congress.

AccessibleTwitter.com Expands Features and Empowers Disabled Users to Access Twitter, the Popular Social Micro-Blogging Web Service

Date posted to site: February 24, 2010

Accessible Twitter, a web application that empowers disabled users to access Twitter, has updated its status from Alpha to Beta.

Accessible Twitter is a web application that enables users with disabilities and limited technology to use the popular social micro-blogging web service Twitter.

Visually Impaired Skier Draws International Attention Upon Arrival at Olympics

Date posted to site: February 24, 2010

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The world's attention turned to Brian McKeever as he arrived at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

Eurosport, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Agence-France Presse, Reuters and the Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun were among the international media that came to hear the story of the visually impaired cross-country skier who is about to make history as the first winter athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics.

Blind Association Seeks 4% Quota in Parliament

Date posted to site: February 24, 2010

Pakistan Association of the Blind (PAB) Monday sought four per cent reserved seats for special persons in the Parliament in the upcoming constitutional package, expected to be announced soon.

Special Needs Children's Long Wait for Care

Date posted to site: February 24, 2010

Scores of Jamaican children with learning disabilities are being left behind by an inadequate education system that spews out illiterates 26,000 at a time.

The system not only fails to identify special-needs children, but expects them to compete without systematic intervention.

Town Bylaw 'Discriminatory'

Date posted to site: February 24, 2010

A legal group is launching human rights complaints Tuesday (today) against Smiths Falls and three other Ontario municipalities, charging them with keeping "offensive, discriminatory" bylaws in place.

Assistive Technology Helps Dementia Sufferers Get Through the Day

Date posted to site: February 23, 2010

Tens of millions of elderly people in the EU suffering from mild dementia may be able to look after themselves, and free up their carers, thanks to a newEuropean-developed system.

One of the first and most debilitating symptoms of dementia is short-term memory loss, which means care is required for people who are otherwise quite capable of looking after themselves. They can perform tasks, but they forget them or how to do them.

Please Resist CNIB's Fundraising Campaign; Library Services for Blind Should be Through Public Library System, not Charity

Date posted to site: February 20, 2010

Canadian Federation of the Blind's Letter to Premier Campbell

Canada needs a coordinated partnership between local and provincial libraries, as well as a nationwide clearinghouse for materials in alternate formats such as Braille, large print, and audio. The clearinghouse must be part of the library system, not an arm of CNIB, which is a private charity. Bowing to CNIB pressure now will delay, or perhaps even prevent, the development of the kind of unified service delivery system we need.

Recruiting Now for Survey on Synthesized Speech and Audio Description

Date posted to site: February 20, 2010

IBM Research-Japan and WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) are conducting a joint study via an online survey on the applicability of speech synthesis for audio description of Web-based video.

Card Readers Draw Complaint

Date posted to site: February 20, 2010

Retailers' use of fixed devices faces challenge by handicapped groups

Quebec associations for the handicapped are challenging retailers' use of immovable debit-card readers.

They say the practice of attaching bank-card readers to store checkout counters discriminates against certain handicapped customers - such as those in wheelchairs - who can't easily reach the counter.

So, What Has Obama Managed to get Done? Ask U.S. Disabled

Date posted to site: February 20, 2010

At last, the United States is part of a UN strategy to stop discrimination

Being blind doesn't bother 30-year-old Bryan Garaventa. It's how others perceive him that's annoying.

"People see you and they see your disability, not the person," he says from his home in Pacifica, Calif. "It's basically ignorance - they think if you have a disability, you're not capable of thinking."

Disabled Lose Ottawa Bus Fight

Date posted to site: February 19, 2010

Senior and disabled transit riders appear to have lost a bid to win more ground at the front of the bus from stroller-pushing parents.

No Fast Ruling on Google Digital Library Plans: Judge

Date posted to site: February 19, 2010

Supporters of Google's effort to create the world's largest digital library on the internet told a U.S. federal judge Thursday that it would benefit society, while opponents said it would infringe on copyright protections and violate the privacy of readers.

Federal Offenders to Receive Mental Health Services Through Innovative Technology

Date posted to site: February 19, 2010

TORONTO, Feb. 18 /CNW/ - A bold new initiative soon to be implemented in federal prisons in Ontario will help to address the treatment needs for federal offenders with mental health issues.

Talking Elevator Makes City Hall More Accessible

Date posted to site: February 19, 2010

St. Catharines city hall is becoming more accessible - with an elevator that now tells you which floor you're on and listening devices that mean you won't miss a word your city councillor is saying.

Legal Aid Facing 'Troubling' Cuts

Date posted to site: February 18, 2010

Loss of researchers especially worrying, storefront lawyers say

Jack de Klerk had to act fast when a mentally ill man walked into a storefront law office on Queen St., fresh from an alarming legal defeat.

"He came to us and said, `I don't want to be evicted,'" de Klerk, clinic director at Neighbourhood Legal Services, recalled in an interview Wednesday.

ACS to Provide Real-Time Passenger Information System to Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority

Date posted to site: February 18, 2010

Transit Information Instantly Delivered to Signs, Web Site and Smart Phones

The Passenger Information System will be implemented at Nashville's Music City Central transit center and at bus shelters along the city's new Bus Rapid Transit line. Message signs will have technology compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), allowing visually impaired passengers to hear information displayed on the signs at the transit center.

Nortel's Disabled Workers Fight Pension Deal

Date posted to site: February 17, 2010

The Nortel pension and benefits deal is subject to court approval on March 3. (CBC)

Nortel employees on long-term disability leave say they will fight a deal reached between the failing company, themselves and Nortel pensioners.

Work Harder to Erase the Stigma of Illiteracy

Date posted to site: February 17, 2010

Learning disabilities among Thai students should be recognised and rectified earlier, giving more people a better chance in life

The number of Thais who fail to develop their reading and writing skills to functional levels will increase if students with learning disabilities are not diagnosed and accommodated.

Air Canada Unveils Proposals for Nut-free Buffer Zones

Date posted to site: February 17, 2010

Air Canada has been ordered to create a nut-free zone on flights to accommodate passengers with serious nut allergies in response to a complaint by two passengers.

Federal Judge Issues Ruling Ordering the National Conference of Bar Examiners(NCBE) to Provide Needed Testing Accommodations to Blind Law School Graduate

Date posted to site: February 16, 2010

San Francisco, Calif. - A federal court has ruled that the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) will cause a blind law school graduate irreparable harm unless it provides her the technology-based testing accommodations she needs to take two exams required to become a member of the State Bar of California.

Landlord Must Pay $10,000 to Disabled Tenant Refused Transfer

Date posted to site: February 15, 2010

TORONTO, Feb. 9 /CNW/ - After being refused a transfer five times by their landlord, Peter and Louise Dixon turned to the Human Rights Legal Support Centre for help. Mr. Dixon, a bilateral amputee, viewed several empty units in his building and was told they were not "suitable."

Elections Canada Must Open Door to Disabled

Date posted to site: February 13, 2010

Human rights tribunal orders improvements

Polio sufferer Peter Hughes is happy that disabled people no longer will be humiliated when they vote at polling stations.

In March 2008, Hughes went to vote in a federal byelection in Toronto Centre - when Bob Rae was elected - only to find the polling station was in a church basement and not accessible to disabled people.

AODA Alliance Calls on All Parties to Strengthen Bill 231 to Prevent More Inaccessible Elections in Ontario

Date posted to site: February 13, 2010

The fallout continues from Elections Ontario's operating a polling station in the February 4, 2010 by-election that was inaccessible to voters with disabilities, and its then denying to the media that the polling station was inaccessible.

Barrier-free Access to Courts & Tribunals: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Date posted to site: February 12, 2010

When contemplating disability accommodations in legal proceedings, a lawyer might think instinctively about the rights of accused persons in criminal trials, or perhaps the common TV image of a lawyer in a wheelchair addressing an attentive jury.

Yet removal of disability barriers in courts and tribunals can benefit many people who have disabilities, including victims of crime, witnesses, litigants, the accused, jurors, or jurists.

Accessible Sports the Focus of new Council

Date posted to site: February 12, 2010

Murray Howard and Darda Sales will serve as co-chairperson on the new Accessible Sports Council London and Area. The council, which was launched on Jan. 29, accepted a $2,300 cheque from ParaSport Ontario to help with start-up costs.

Darda Sales knows what it takes to overcome challenges while competing - and succeeding - at the highest level.

Illiteracy in America

Date posted to site: February 12, 2010

Illiteracy is a common problem all across the world, and in some places more common than others. Illiteracy isn't just the inability to read , illiteracy prevents those who are illiterate from living a "Normal every-day life". How can a disease that through all of time has seemed incurable be cured, and a war that has seemed unwinnable be won? The answer to this question is this war cannot be completely won immediately but the fight can b increased fought harder. Over time the war can be won and the battle ended, but to do this everyone will have to fight. Focusing the attention of the people and starting at the beginning is the most basic way to begin the fight. Then focusing the attention and power of the Federal Government on the issue would be the second step. The final step would be focusing time and money through agencies and foundations towards illiteracy.

Cuts to Disability Funding Prompt Legislature Protest

Date posted to site: February 12, 2010

Wendy MacDonald, president of the Alberta Association for Community Living, spoke at the rally. (CBC)The families of people with developmental disabilities held a protest at the legislature over cuts to a program that helps disabled adults live as independently as possible.

"This is not a political issue. This is a people issue," said Wendy MacDonald, president of the Alberta Association for Community Living.

WIPO Workshop Focuses on Improving Web Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

Date posted to site: February 10, 2010

GENEVA - A workshop hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from February 2 to 5, 2010, brought together over 180 persons from some 32 organizations to promote awareness about accessibility for people with disabilities and to encourage webmasters within the United Nations system and other organizations to implement principles of accessibility in their daily work.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=192

Inaccessible Toronto Polling Station in February 4, 2010 Provincial By-election Highlights Urgent Need for Strong Provincial Legislation to Ensure Accessible Provincial and Municipal Elections

Date posted to site: February 09, 2010

The February 5, 2010 Toronto Sun reported that a polling station in the February 4, 2010 Toronto provincial by-election was inaccessible to voters with disabilities. (Making this incident worse, Elections Ontario initially denied that the polling station was inaccessible.

AODA - Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance Chair's 2009 Year-end Report

Date posted to site: February 09, 2010

It is my honour to provide you with my first Year-End Report since I took on the role of Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance last February. We have accomplished a great deal in 2009 in our ongoing campaign for a barrier-free Ontario.

There has been progress over the past year. Yet Ontario clearly remains behind schedule to meet the goal, required under the AODA, to become fully accessible by 2025.

Eroding Services Take Toll on Kids

Date posted to site: February 09, 2010

Members of a local advocacy group are hoping to 'bury' Ontario's premier in letters, pleading for the government to address what they call the neglect of mental health services for children.

U of W to Offer Manitoba's First Disability Studies Undergrad DegreeProgram

Date posted to site: February 09, 2010

New program will focus on the social aspects ofdisability

There is a lot of interest and student demand for Manitoba's first Interdisciplinary Bachelor's in Disability Studies degree program.

After 10 years of planning, the University of Winnipeg is introducing Manitoba's first Interdisciplinary Bachelor's in Disability Studies degree program.

Ontario's Disabled Fighting to Protect Their Voting Rights

Date posted to site: February 08, 2010

Activists for the province's disabled community are calling for tough legislation to protect their voting rights after Elections Ontario set up a polling station down a flight of stairs.

Inclusion: More Than Mere Access

Date posted to site: February 08, 2010

This Presentation was originally delivered at the Collections, Connections and Communities Conference, Ottawa, Ontario, October 2, 2009. It was revised for presentation at the University of Toronto, February 3, 2010.

For many persons with a disability - even a life long history and museum lover like me - the prospect of a visit to a museum, art gallery or heritage property can be a rather intimidating event. However, this need not be the case.

Social Inclusion for the Web

Date posted to site: February 08, 2010

We no longer think it is acceptable to discriminate against people on grounds of gender or race and, as a community, we expect provision to be made for people with disabilities in public transport and building design. However, when it comes to making sure web content is accessible to all users of the web, including people with disabilities, some designers, developers and clients just 'don't get it', to borrow a phrase popular with the geekerati.

We like to rejoice in the notion that all 'men are created equal with inalienable rights', or 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs', to take a more Marxist approach, however this hasn't always been the case.

A Misleading Public-Relations Blitz Seems Aimed at Creating a Monopoly

Date posted to site: February 06, 2010

CNIB serves fewer than 10 per cent of the people who need alternatives to standard print.

If you're blind or have impaired vision or a physical or reading disability that makes print inaccessible to you, where do you go if you want to read a good book?

Hoping to See Change

Date posted to site: February 06, 2010

Eastend resident Brenda Cooke involved with Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians

Right now, Cooke points out, a blind person cannot walk into a library - funded by the public - and enjoy the same access as that of their fellow sighted citizens.

"That is a very serious inequality in our country," she stated. "And, right now it could take up to five years to produce a book in a format that a blind person could access and most times that material is provided through charity dollars rather than the tax base."

Man in Wheelchair has Trouble Voting in Toronto Centre Byelection

Date posted to site: February 05, 2010

Just a stone's throw away from Queen's Park - where legislators passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act just a few years ago - Elections Ontario set up a polling station that could only be accessed by going down a flight of stairs.

Local resident John Wood told the Toronto Sun that he had to abandon his wheelchair and struggle with help down the stairs to cast a ballot in the Toronto Centre byelection Thursday.

Braille Illiteracy is a Growing Problem

Date posted to site: February 03, 2010

Ronnay Howard is 9 years old and legally blind with cornrows in her hair and a smile on her face.

She sits in front of a keyboard in the resource room for the visually impaired at Engleburg Elementary School, her small hands moving methodically over six large keys.

Access Remains Unequal: Disabled

Date posted to site: February 03, 2010

Homes, stores, sidewalks difficult to get to for many

Oceanside streets, stores, parking areas and houses are failing many with wheelchairs, scooters and walkers, say members of a group seeking to improve accessibility.

They say homes of friends and family are often off-limits for lack of level entrances or accessible washrooms; most disabled parking spaces are too narrow for chair lifts; few curbs are lowered to allow access; doors at some malls can be difficult or impossible to open; and more store merchandise should be accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Put 'Handi' Back in Our Handi-Transit

Date posted to site: February 03, 2010

Transportation was the primary issue around which people with disabilities first organized back in the mid 1970s. This led to the eventual creation of a Handi-Transit system in 1976.

Since then, much progress has been made. However, many barriers still exist with new ones being erected almost daily.

Badeyes Design & Consulting Partners with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™

Date posted to site: February 02, 2010

To further its commitment to web accessibility, Badeyes Design and Consulting has partnered with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ in order to add another layer of accessibility to sites it designs.

With the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) now in force it makes even more sense to make websites as accessible as possible and eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ helps us do just that.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=186

Mobility Transit Draws Fire

Date posted to site: February 02, 2010

It takes a lot to get Aurora's Tyler Barker upset, but York Region Transit's Mobility Plus service has been making a pretty good go of it lately, he says.

Mr. Barker, who relies on a wheelchair to get around, said he has had his issues with YRT's accessible transit service for people with disabilities since he started using the service to get from home to school at Seneca College's Newnham campus in Toronto in September.

Employment Insurance Extension To Self-Employed Canadians Comes Into Effect

Date posted to site: February 02, 2010

Represents One Of The Most Significant Enhancements To The EI Program In A Decade

As of January 31, self-employed Canadians are able to register for the Employment Insurance (EI) program, which will extend to them maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, collectively called special benefits.

Handicap Parking Cheaters Tagged by iPhone APP

Date posted to site: February 01, 2010

The Parking Mobility iPhone app helps people report those who use handicap parking spots without a permit. (CBC)

A western Canadian non-profit company is making it easier to catch people who use handicap parking spots without a proper permit.

Back to Table of Contents

March

Online Social Networks Bridge Gaps for Chronically Ill

Date posted to site: March 31, 2010

Amy Tenderich, who has diabetes, writes a blog and manages the social network Diabetic Connect from home in Millbrae, Calif.

For many people, social networks are a place for idle chatter about what they made for dinner or sharing cute pictures of their pets. But for people living with chronic diseases or disabilities, they play a more vital role.

First Day of Public Hearings Show Resounding Support for Our Call for Bill 231 to be Strengthened to Ensure Fully Accessible Elections for Ontarians with Disabilities

Date posted to site: March 30, 2010

On March 24, 2010, the Legislature's Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly's public hearings heard a resounding, unanimous call from all community organization presenters, from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and from several individuals with disabilities. They called for Bill 231 to be significantly strengthened to ensure fully accessible elections for persons with disabilities.

Bill 231 is the Government's proposed new legislation to modernize elections in Ontario. The AODA Alliance has called for that bill to be strengthened to ensure that all provincial and municipal elections in Ontario are fully accessible for voters and candidates with disabilities.

You can now download and listen to an MP3 file of the AODA Alliance's 13-minute March 31, 2010 presentation on Bill 231 to the Ontario Legislature's Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly. Just go to:
http://www.aodaalliance.org/docs/media/03 10-lepofsky-presentation-bill-231.mp3

My Second Open Letter to Ontario Members of Parliament.

Date posted to site: March 30, 2010

By James Homuth

Two weeks ago, I sent the first of my letters to Ontario's members of parliament. Specificly, I emailed the premier, the minister of community and social services, my local conservative member of parliament, and the leaders of both the conservatives and the NDP. I went into quite a bit of detail on the specifics of our problems with the way current disability arangements are set up. Surprisingly enough, the best response came from an unlikely source-the NDP, who actually went so far as to tell me roughly what they'd do differently were they in government.

Dealing with Government Online to Become Easier for Australians with Disabilities

Date posted to site: March 30, 2010

Australians with disabilities will soon find it easier to access government information online.

Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten said the Rudd Government had endorsed new website accessibility standards, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

AODA Alliance - Disability advocates slam weak elections Bill

Date posted to site: March 30, 2010

Urge accessible elections for voters with disabilities - Will present demands to Legislative Committee on March 31

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Because voters with disabilities still confront barriers impeding access to polling stations and voting independently, at 12:30 pm, Wednesday March 31, 2010 the AODA Alliance will press an Ontario Legislature Standing Committee at Queen's Park Room 151, to beef up the McGuinty Government's toothless Bill 231. They want fully accessible elections for over one million voters with disabilities. The Government's Bill 231 is supposed to modernize elections, including addressing barriers facing voters with disabilities.

Read mor at
http://www.aoda.ca/?p=394

Educational Rights for Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

Date posted to site: March 29, 2010

Because many children with ADHD/ADD experience significant academic difficulties, it is very important for parents to be aware of the special educational services that public schools are required to provide. Unfortunately, many children with ADHD/ADD do not receive the services they are entitled to, and parents are often unaware of the assistance their child should be receiving.

vote for Petition to Make JAWS for Windows Lease to Own

Date posted to site: March 29, 2010

As many of us know, the jaws for windows screen-reading software product, made by freedom scientific inc., is one of the most popular programs among blind and visually impaired people.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive.

Dana Douglas Issues Urgent Recall Notice - Please Forward!

Date posted to site: March 27, 2010

Dear Community Members,

If you or someone you know is using a Nexus 1, 2 or 3 Rollator Walker (manufactured prior to Oct. 2008) then you need to know that Dana Douglas has issued an urgent recall for these walkers as there have been reports of the frames breaking which have led to injuries of users.

Poverty Advocates Decry Loss of Diet Allowance

Date posted to site: March 26, 2010

Ontario is scrapping the Special Diet Allowance that helps people on social assistance pay extra food costs related to specific medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Attend the AODA Alliance's March 31 2010 Presentation on Bill 231 to the Legislature's Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly

Date posted to site: March 26, 2010

On March 24 and 31, 2010, the Legislature's Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly holds its public hearings on Bill 231. That bill is the McGuinty Government's proposed legislation for reforming Ontario's election laws. The AODA Alliance here offers helpful tips on preparing a written or oral presentation to the Standing Committee. These tips will help you whether you are scheduled to make an oral presentation, or are just sending in a written submission, or are doing both.

Everyone is welcome to come to the Ontario Legislature at Queen's Park to watch the Standing Committee hearings. We encourage you to come. We are especially eager for you to be present when the AODA Alliance presents for 15 minutes on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 starting at 12:30 noon.

Expedia.com Launches New Accessibility Search Tools for Disabled Travelers

Date posted to site: March 25, 2010

Expedia.com®, the world's leading online travel agency, has launched a unique suite of search tools designed to help disabled travelers find and book accessible accommodations.

Strangers In Our Own Land

Date posted to site: March 24, 2010

It was a very warm morning. The sun was shining and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. I was eating breakfast at the hotel restaurant and rummaging through the local newspaper. I had reached the classified section when an attractive ad caught my attention. It stated the following:

Wanted immediately, college graduates, all majors. Our company has immediate openings in advertising, sales, public relations, writing categories, and numerous other challenging business fields. We are well known for our management trainee program. We welcome all applicants. Please see Mr. Hill at the El Dorado Dude Ranch, Suite 17, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., Mon- Wed. We are an E.O.E [1] firm.

New Court Offers Local Help to Those With Mental Illness

Date posted to site: March 23, 2010

Every second Friday morning, there's a sitting of the Sault Community Court at the Queen Street courthouse.

At first glance, it appears to be no different than any other day in the Ontario Court of Justice -- the judge, Crown and lawyers are the same faces one normally would see dealing with people who have run afoul of the law.

But this is a mental health court, a recently-established program designed to help people with mental illness navigate their way through the criminal justice system.

Ratification of Human Rights Treaty: What Does it Mean for Persons With Disabilities?

Date posted to site: March 22, 2010

The Federal Government proudly announced that it was the 84th nation to ratify the International Covenant on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities. In the same breath, they pat themselves on the back to announce how much of a leader Canada is in implementing equality provisions as cited in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and administratively through our Human Rights Codes. While political commentators, including this one, are pleased this was done, the plight of persons with disabilities is far from improved. In fact, many uninformed bigots continue to try to attack what few rights we have, as cited in a recent letter of mine in the local newspaper.

Government of Canada Taking Action for Canadians With Disabilities

Date posted to site: March 22, 2010

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 20, 2010) -The Honourable DianeFinley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced funding for projects that highlight the contributions that people with disabilities make to Canada and their communities.

Equality Bill Makes Britain's Web Accessibility Law Harder to Access

Date posted to site: March 22, 2010

OPINION: The UK's law on web accessibility is being re-written in an apparent attempt to make it impenetrable. But even though algebra has replaced plain English, the duty to make information accessible to disabled people survives, thanks to a blind peer.

AODA Alliance Updates

Date posted to site: March 20, 2010

Please Endorse the AODA Alliance Brief on Strengthening Bill 231 to Ensure Fully Accessible Elections for Voters and Candidates With Disabilities
http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03172010.asp

Ontario Throne Speech Makes Progress on Disability Accessibility A Priority for the McGuinty Government
http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03082010.asp

Faculty Members Get a Lesson in AODA

Date posted to site: March 20, 2010

Although faculty members may not traditionally view their classroom time as providing a 'service,' under new legislation teaching is considered a service professors provide to student 'customers.'

Staff members have completed training sessions geared towards the accessibility standards for customer service under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which took effect on Jan. 1.

Don't Condemn Patients to Park Bench or Prison

Date posted to site: March 19, 2010

WHO cares about acute psychiatric beds? Nobody apparently. That is, nobody does until they need one.

When relatives or friends become so severely mentally unwell that they can no longer take care of themselves and neither families nor community mental health teams can look after them, a hospital bed is an absolute necessity.

Commissions Congratulate Nova Scotians for Work on International Disabilities Convention

Date posted to site: March 18, 2010

The Disabled Person's Commission and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission today, March 17, congratulated the Nova Scotians who took a leadership role in the drafting and finalizing of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Canada's Woolstencroft Wins Paralympic Gold

Date posted to site: March 18, 2010

Standing at the top of the podium never gets old for alpine skier Lauren Woolstencroft, just harder.

Woolstencroft earned her second gold medal of the Paralympics Wednesday by winning the women's standing giant slalom. She finished 7.57 seconds ahead of silver medallist Andrea Rothfuss of Germany.

Making the Mobile Internet Accessible for All

Date posted to site: March 18, 2010

A recent survey by WebAIM - a US-based non-profit organisation promoting web accessibility systems - found that a surprising 53% of people with a vision impairment were using a screen reader on a mobile device, showing clearly that an increased emphasis on the accessibility of mobile content and devices is overdue.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=198

OC Transpo Receives Penalty for Failing to Call Out Stops

Date posted to site: March 17, 2010

Ottawa - March 16, 2010-The Canadian Transportation Agency today issued a $12,500 penalty to OC Transpo for failing to comply with an order to call out major and requested stops on all of its routes.

Disabled in B.C. Struggling: Advocate

Date posted to site: March 17, 2010

Quadriplegic Sylvia West says she can't make ends meet living in Vancouver on a government disability pension. (CBC)

As the Paralympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler showcase the extraordinary skills and support for some athletes with disabilities, the reality for many disabled in B.C. stands in stark contrast.

Getting or Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit (APP)

Date posted to site: March 16, 2010

The Accessible Parking Permit (APP) is issued to individuals and entitles the vehicle in which it is displayed to be parked in a designated accessible parking space. The individual to whom the permit is issued must be in the vehicle and the permit must be visibly displayed on the dashboard or sun visor when it is parked in the designated accessible parking space. The permit holder may use the permit in any vehicle in which they are travelling. There is no fee for an APP.

One-Stop Shopping for Athletes

Date posted to site: March 16, 2010

London has taken a lead role in establishing an accessible sports council for a largely under-serviced group of athletes.

With some seed funding from ParaSport Ontario, several London and area individuals from sports teams and community organizations have established the Accessible Sport Council London and Area.

Canada's McKeever Wins Paralympic Gold

Date posted to site: March 16, 2010

Visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever has won Canada's first gold medal of the Paralympics.

He finished first in Monday's 20-kilometre race for the visually impaired with a time of 51 minutes 14.7 seconds in Whistler, B.C. Nikolay Polukhin of Russia was second in 51:55.6 while Vasiki Shaptsiaboi was third in 52:22.5.

2011 census to probe how many are disabled

Date posted to site: March 16, 2010

If all goes well, the 2011 Census will refine its questionnaire in a bid to determine how many to Indians really suffer from disability.

The 2001 census came up with a figure of 2.13 percent of the Indian population. This, experts say, is way off the mark.

Athletes Strive for Recognition

Date posted to site: March 15, 2010

Paralympic competitors train as hard as Olympic athletes and frequently compete on the same courses, yet they get a fraction of the support and acknowledgement.

As the 2010 Paralympic Games get underway in Vancouver some hope that is starting to change.

Double Discrimination Faced by Women With Disabilities in the Workplace

Date posted to site: March 15, 2010

In today's society, disability is equated to being an illness. Although individuals with disabilities tend to face discrimination in society, the Canadian government acknowledges the importance of shifting away from the "stigma" and the biomedical approach when discussing disability. Their goal is to provide individuals with disabilities with independent living, social inclusion, control and social support. In order to achieve these goals, many changes needed to be made.

Transit Windsor Accused of Providing Inconsistent Service to Handicapped Woman

Date posted to site: March 15, 2010

Transit Windsor has been accused of providing inconsistent service to Sheena Kerr, a handicapped woman who depends on city buses for transportation.

The caregiver for a handicapped woman says Transit Windsor may claim to have handicapped-accessible buses on routes, but the service frequently depends on who is driving the bus.

CNIB Workers Prepare to Picket

Date posted to site: March 13, 2010

Workers at Winnipeg's Canadian National Institute for the Blind are preparing to walk off the job on Monday.

Union members on Thursday voted down the CNIB's final contract offer, after negotiating with management for close to a year.

Accommodations for Disabled Have Taken Root

Date posted to site: March 13, 2010

Some gains for people with disabilities have turned out to be losses

One of my first assignments as a reporter at The Vancouver Sun was to head out to a city parking lot to keep my eyes on the then-new spots with the blue signs warning: "Disabled parking only."

It was 1983. It did not take long for my story to materialize.

Canada Ratifies UN Treaty for Disabled Rights

Date posted to site: March 12, 2010

Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the eve of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

"Canada is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and enabling their full participation in society," Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday after delivering the ratified document to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York City as activist Traci Walters looked on, beaming, from her wheelchair.

Promoting Rights of Disabled New Foreign Policy Focus: Cannon

Date posted to site: March 12, 2010

UNITED NATIONS - Promoting the rights of disabled people around the world will become a key foreign policy focus for Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said at the United Nations Thursday.

Woodstock's Overall Committees Budget Drops for 2010

Date posted to site: March 12, 2010

The budget presentations by the chairs of the city's advisory committees didn't provoke much of a response from councillors.

Combine Paralympics and Olympics, founder urges

Date posted to site: March 11, 2010

First competitions for people with disabilities were in rehabilitation hospitals

The Paralympic Torch is passed on in a relay around Riley Park, close to venues for the Paralympics on Wednesday.

The founder of the International Paralympic Committee wants to see the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games combined to take advantage of the kind of public support Canadians showed at the 2010 Olympics.

Elite Athletes Who Need a Helping Hand

Date posted to site: March 11, 2010

Team Canada sledge hockey captain Jean Labonte: hopes people will look beyond Paralympians' disabilities to their athletic performances.

Most able-bodied folks aren't comfortable with disability, despite national heroes like Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.

My dad spent most of his last five years in a wheelchair. Once people saw the chair, many treated him as if his disability was contagious. In that chair, my father was invisible, inanimate, a gimp.

IBM to Collaborate With Universities to Make Mobile Devices More Accessible

Date posted to site: March 11, 2010

Could Help Make eGovernment Services and Economic Opportunity Available to More Populations

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM), the National Institute of Design (NID) of India and Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo (RCAST) today announced a new collaborative research initiative to explore an open, common user interface platform for mobile devices, to make them easier to use for disadvantaged populations around the world.

Guelph Man Gets His Wheelchair-Accessible Door

Date posted to site: March 11, 2010

GUELPH - Matt Wozenilek can't wait to try out the wheelchair-accessible door at his neighbourhood 7-Eleven store after taking the company to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and winning.

Wozenilek, 58, can't get around without a wheelchair and didn't like that he couldn't enter the 7-Eleven store at Stevenson Street North and Speedvale Avenue - the only convenience store in his neighbourhood - without someone opening the door for him.

Seeing-Eye Dog Refused Entry to Restaurant

Date posted to site: March 11, 2010

manager of a Subway restaurant has apologized to a visually impaired Ottawa man who was refused service at the restaurant because he wasn't allowed to bring his seeing-eye dog inside, and advocacy groups for the blind say this happens far too often.

Paralympic Winter Games TV Schedule announced

Date posted to site: March 10, 2010

Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium announced today it would broadcast fifty-seven hours of high-definition television coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in English and French.

Supports Cut for Low-Income B.C. Residents

Date posted to site: March 09, 2010

Minor savings to province signal a devaluation of vulnerable people

On April 1, a number of dental, preventive health and medical services for people struggling to live on disability assistance and income assistance will be cut back.

This is not a fool's joke; it is Liberal government social policy.

Study Focuses on Disability and Employment Among Working-Age Immigrants in the U.S.

Date posted to site: March 09, 2010

Currently, foreign-born people make up approximately 13 percent of the total U.S. population. As the immigrant population grows, understanding its disability status and employment characteristics becomes increasingly important. People, both native and foreign-born, with disabilities make important contributions to our society, and many individuals continue to work despite a wide range of impairments. A new study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital focuses on disability and employment among working-age immigrants in the United States.

The Proposed Accessibility Exception to Copyright

Date posted to site: March 08, 2010

The disabled in India are, for the most part, an invisible minority with disability, and often the disabled themselves, being stigmatised. In a country where access to information and education is limited by a variety of factors, including class and caste, persons who have disabilities tend to be far more disadvantaged than the average person of their own caste and class would be.

Guest Commentary: A Moral Dilemma: "Scentual" Pleasure at the Expense of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Others

Date posted to site: March 08, 2010

Hundreds of Canadians have contacted the Canadian Human Rights Commission to find out whether their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are being violated because they are unable to access basic services, social and cultural events in their community without becoming ill from fragrance exposure.

Noor Dubai Exceeds Target One Year Later

Date posted to site: March 08, 2010

The charity Noor Dubai, started by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has reached its first year anniversary - and exceeded its goals.

Scanners to Help Blind in Kitchen

Date posted to site: March 06, 2010

Blind people in Switzerland will soon have help telling their ravioli from their tinned fruit in the kitchen as a new loud-speaking device able to decipher 50,000 products was launched Monday.

"It is almost indispensable for a blind person who wants to live independently," the spokesman for the Swiss union for the blind that will sell the device, told AFP.

Accessible Inter-City Transportation

Date posted to site: March 06, 2010

Highway coaches are available for people with mobility issues.

After twenty-five years in the industry, I took it for granted that it was common knowledge this service was available. However, I discovered that many people did not realize that with a minimum of twenty four hours notice, an accessible highway coach can be made available to anyone with mobility issues.

Stage Set for Paralympic Games

Date posted to site: March 05, 2010

Canada's Paralympic team has set a lofty goal of winning enough gold medals to finish among the top three countries. (Nigel Armstrong/Canadian Press)

As the curtain is drawn on Vancouver's Olympic Games, the stage is being set for Canada's first Winter Paralympics.

Accessibility Standards for Customer Service: A Student Perspective

Date posted to site: March 04, 2010

years ago, the Government of Ontario passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which will update accessibility standards across the province. The act rolls out in five parts, with 2025 as the goal for a fully accessible Ontario. The first part, Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, came into effect on January 1 of this year, and requires every service provider to take part. This includes the faculty, staff and student monitors here at Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD).

Smiths Falls to Remove two Provisions in Bylaws Accused of Being Discriminatory, will Study Third

Date posted to site: March 04, 2010

EMC News - While the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) is happy that the Town of Smiths Falls is planning to withdraw the "most offensive" provisions of the town's Zoning Bylaw and Official Plans related to group homes, it is still concerned about the distancing requirement.

Torch Bearers Named for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics

Date posted to site: March 04, 2010

VANCOUVER, B.C., (March 3, 2010) - The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is proud to announce the 25 torch bearers it has selected to take part in the Paralympic Torch Relay for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. These individuals have been selected for their outstanding contribution to the Paralympic Movement. The relay will raise awareness for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 12 - 21, 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler.

People With Disabilities Deserve Jobs: Official

Date posted to site: March 03, 2010

With the help of a new community support campaign, it's going to be easier for people with disabilities to showcase their talent as part of Ontario's workforce.

"We want to ensure that all Ontarians have the opportunities and tools they need to reach their full potential," said Kristen Tedesco, communications coordinator for the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Guest Commentary: Stigma & Sensitivities: Must They Coexist?

Date posted to site: March 03, 2010

Those with environmental sensitivities look just like anyone else, yet their bodies react very differently to such things as automobile exhaust, moulds, fragrances, tobacco smoke and pesticides. While reactions often effect the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and/or muscular systems, most everyone with environmental sensitivities experiences neurological symptoms such as headaches, depression, insomnia, anxiety, coordination problems, difficulties with memory and concentration, feeling spaced out, etc. These types of symptoms can have a strong impact on employability.

The Serotek Ultimatum

Date posted to site: March 03, 2010

Serotek declares war on the traditional adaptive technology industry and their blind ghetto products. With this announcement we are sending out a call to arms to every blind person and every advocate for the blind to rise up and throw off the tyranny that has shaped our lives for the past two decades. It is a tyranny of good intentions - or at least what began as good intentions. But as the proverb says, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

A Federal Agenda that Includes 'Us'

Date posted to site: March 02, 2010

Our elected members of parliament will return to work this week. And with that comes the expectation that some work will finally get done. Over these last few years disability issues have taken a backseat on the national agenda. This has been a real disappointment for me and for many of my colleagues.

Special Diet Program Contravenes Human Rights: Province Considers Scrapping Program in Response

Date posted to site: March 02, 2010

/CNW/ - The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal recently found that the provincial Special Diet Allowance (SDA) program violates the Human Rights Code in the way it provides benefits to three individuals. These three individuals are lead complainants in a Tribunal proceeding that involves complaints from nearly 200 other people.

Making Vancouver accessible to all

Date posted to site: March 02, 2010

Vancouver's hosting of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is benefitting one very deserving group of travellers: Those with disabilities.

Vancouver Olympics Web sites are inaccessible to disabled people

Date posted to site: March 01, 2010

Testing shows Vancouver2010.com and CTVOlympics.ca are almost impossible to use for some people with physical disabilities, and hard to use and understand for blind or deaf people.

Coalition on Emergency Preparedness for People With Disabilities

Date posted to site: March 01, 2010

- Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Canada (IEPC) is developing training materials for emergency reception centres and shelter staff and volunteers on how best to assist people with disabilities during an emergency or disaster.

TORONTO, Feb. 26 /CNW/ - Ontario-wide - Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami and other catastrophic events have keenly demonstrated the need for emergency preparedness for government, businesses, households and individuals. When planning for disasters or emergencies, special consideration needs to be taken to include people with disabilities.

April

FCC Releases First-Ever Paper On Accessibility & Technology Issues

Date posted to site: April 30, 2010

"Washington, D.C. [April 23, 2020] - Today, the Federal Communications Commission issued the agency's first-ever working paper addressing accessibility and technology issues. Part of a series of working papers released in conjunction with the National Broadband Plan, the paper considers the numerous barriers to broadband usage faced by people with disabilities, including inaccessible hardware, software, services, and web content and expensive specialized assistive technologies.

Making Concordia Accessible to All Congress Delegates

Date posted to site: April 30, 2010

Concordia has a long history of being an accessible environment. If anyone knows it how to make it more so, it's Leo Bissonnette.

Bissonnette, who's been at Concordia since the 1974 merger alternating between student, staff and part-time teacher, is currently the Coordinator for the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities. His knowledge of how to make the university accessible is his contribution to Congress this spring as Local Arrangement Coordinator for Canadian Disabilities Studies Association (CDSA).

City Lets Deaf Community Know It Isn't Forgotten

Date posted to site: April 29, 2010

Belleville's hard-of-hearing and deaf community is getting better insight into how the municipality works.

New equipment which allows hard-of-hearing residents to listen in during council meetings and the inclusion of a sign language interpreter at some meetings will break down barriers for a large number of residents in Belleville.

Barrett's Private Member's Bill Lauded

Date posted to site: April 29, 2010

Toby Barrett's private member's bill received sincere praise from one of those who would be affected most.

You did a good job today, Mike Cerna said following the Haldimand-Norfolk MPP's presentation to the Ontario Disabilities Network Building Capacity and Enhancing Quality in Employment Services workshop Monday at the Gyulveszi Centre. Thank you.

Internet Needs to Have More Accessibility to Poorer Countries, Berners-Lee and Weitzner Say

Date posted to site: April 29, 2010

In an afternoon session led by Lee Rainie, Tim Berners-Lee and Danny Weitzner of NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) discussed the future of the World Wide Web and its accessibility to poorer countries and areas within the US.

"The overall motion is very much forward," Berners-Lee said. "We could get to where the Internet could become socially unstable If someone understands the technology in ways we don't understand it, they can use it in ways we think is unfair"

Cobourg Held Up as Pioneer in Accessible Voting

Date posted to site: April 29, 2010

CCOBOURG-- Willowdale MPP David Zimmer is holding up the Town of Cobourg as an example to emulate, as debate goes on at Queen's Park over updates to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

No Online Option

Date posted to site: April 28, 2010

Voters looking to phone, mail or cast their ballot by internet won't get the chance this October after a recommendation was voted down by city council Monday night.

Opening Doors in Pickering

Date posted to site: April 27, 2010

Accessibility advisory committee planning for barrier-free city

PICKERING -- Doors must be open to all Ontarians by 2025, and a group of Pickering volunteers hopes to whip Pickering into shape for the Province's goal of full accessibility.

"They all have the right to the same quality of life that we enjoy today," said Keith Falconer, chairman of the Pickering accessibility advisory committee.

Disabled Cry Foul Over Cuts

Date posted to site: April 27, 2010

Like many people who depend on Brockville's para transit system, Mary Ann Greenwood worries it will soon be harder to get a ride.

Greenwood, whose son, Paul Murrell, 31, has tuberous sclerosis and requires a wheelchair to get around, has already had to reduce the number of times she uses para transit. She worries those opportunities will decrease even more when the city's new para transit contract takes effect May 1, effectively reducing the number of available buses from a maximum of four to two.

Sarnia Issues Challenge to Ontario Mayors to Employ People Who Have a Disability

Date posted to site: April 27, 2010

The mayor of Sarnia is hoping to "start a prairie fire" across the province when it comes to including people who have a disability as part of the workforce.

Everyone's Suddenly Become an 'Accessibility Expert'

Date posted to site: April 24, 2010

Just like dandelions in Spring Web Accessibility Experts are popping up all over the place!

Now that the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Customer Care Standard is Law and the Information and Communications Standard is soon to follow,websites are showing up claiming all kinds of expertise.

They are experts in Customer Care, Web Accessibility, cleaning windows and I'll bet Transportation and the Built Environment before too long.

B.C. Changes Eyewear Regulations

Date posted to site: April 24, 2010

The B.C. government is deregulating the prescription eyewear industry - a move that optometrists say could put people's eyesight at risk.

Civil Rights Division Pushes for Internet Accessibility

Date posted to site: April 23, 2010

A Justice Department official told a House Judiciary panel Thursday that the Civil Rights Division will continue to push for accessibility on the internet for Americans with disabilities.

Samuel R. Bagenstos, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, said that division has worked to ensure that websites for state and local governments and public accommodations comply with the American with Disabilities Act and are accessible by assistive technologies, such as text readers or Braille displays, which convert text to Braille for blind web users.

Interim Mental Health Report Released

Date posted to site: April 22, 2010

Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones says an interim report by an Ontario Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions confirms a need to reform the current health care system.

People With Disabilities Make Good Employees

Date posted to site: April 22, 2010

A company that avoids hiring physically challenged people does so to its detriment, says Ontario's Lt.-Gov. David Onley.

They're not only as capable as non-disabled hires, they often top their performance.

No New Vehicle, No Access

Date posted to site: April 21, 2010

Cabs that can take wheelchairs are wearing out; drivers hope for provincial subsidy

Two cab drivers who provide the only wheelchair accessible taxi service in the Halifax Regional Municipality are threatening to take their specialized minivans off the road unless they get a subsidy from the province.

Electronic Voting on the Rise

Date posted to site: April 21, 2010

Renfrew undecided whether to go electronic

Alternative voting method. Stephen Beamish of Dartmouth-based Intelivote addresses Renfrew council. The business will provide electronic voting systems for about 30 Ontario municipalities in the October 2010 election Steve Newman

Forget about the old paper ballot. Several Renfrew County municipalities are making the move to electronic voting for the October 2010 municipal election.

Disability Rights: Coming of Age at UN

Date posted to site: April 20, 2010

It takes a long time to clear security at UN headquarters these days. But after waiting nearly eight years for the moment, I was in no rush. Last Thursday, with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as witness, the government of Canada took the final step towards ratifying the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); and I had a ringside seat!

A Chance to Make it Right for Disabled Voters

Date posted to site: April 20, 2010

Retired Unitarian minister Peter Hughes had to enter a polling station on the seat of his pants.

"That's all I could do. They didn't have a good railing and I didn't want to fall," said Hughes, 57, who had polio as a child.

Post-polio syndrome has him using a walker to get around, but to vote in the March 17, 2008 federal by-election, Hughes had to descend the stairs of Toronto's St. Basil's Church on his rear end, while another voter carried his walker. It was the only way Hughes could get inside.

Disabled Voters Snubbed

Date posted to site: April 17, 2010

It is widely recognized that disabled Ontarians are poorly served when attempting to cast an election ballot. Barriers haven't yet been eliminated at many polling places, some of which feature multiple steps or doorways too narrow to accommodate a scooter.

There Should Be No Barriers to Voting in Ontario

Date posted to site: April 17, 2010

Bill 231, a series of amendments to the Election Act, is now before the legislature, but it is not enough to take into account the full needs of voters with disabilities.

AODA Alliance Updates

Date posted to site: April 17, 2010

April 17, 2010

Recap of Progress to Date in our Campaign for Fully Accessible Elections in Ontario -and More on Options for Accessible Voting Technology -and our Recent Exchanges with Elections Ontario and the Ontario Government on Elections Accessibility Issues

See http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/04112010.asp
and
http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/04122010.asp

Lieutenant-Governor Talks Accessibility at Ajax Event

Date posted to site: April 17, 2010

AJAX -- When it comes to accessibility, it's places like Lakeridge Health in Durham that are showing the way for other organizations, said Lt.-Gov. David Onley in Ajax on Wednesday.

Apple's iPad Brings Easy Reading to the Blind

Date posted to site: April 16, 2010

Ask any PC-loving computer nerd why Apple products have become the de facto choice of the masses, and you'll likely hear something like, "People buy Apple products because they're pretty." That may be true for many, but one group of consumers who care little for Apple's prodigious aesthetics are the blind.

Document Accessibility Should Begin at the Author Level

Date posted to site: April 13, 2010

Apr 9, 2010, By
Deborah Kaplan and Monir ElRayes

The ability to access and process electronic information has become one of the most important factors in leading a full and productive life in today's knowledge-based society. This makes access to electronic information critical for people with disabilities who are seeking employment and other opportunities.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=205

Bias Against Obese People Increasing, Study Says

Date posted to site: April 13, 2010

With more people becoming obese, it would stand to reason attitudes toward obese people should be getting more tolerant. But a major new study shows the opposite is true.

No Child Left Behind Made Sure Students with Learning Disabilities Count, Now Let's Make Sure They Graduate

Date posted to site: April 13, 2010

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorized as No Child Left Behind under President George W. Bush's administration, is up for renewal.

President Barack Obama has called for Congress to vote on this education bill before the fall 2010 elections. Here, the National Center on Learning Disabilities outlines how this overarching federal education law affecting kindergarteners through high schoolers can be improved to ensure greater academic success and higher graduation rates for students with ADD/ADHD and LD.

Coyle: Province's Silence on Mental Health Leaves Advocates Fearing for the Future

Date posted to site: April 12, 2010

In politics, as in detective stories, the most meaningful clue is sometimes the dog that doesn't bark. And mental health advocates in Ontario might be drawing nervous conclusions from the silence.

Sweeping Landmark Class Action Settlement Paves the Way for Improved Sidewalk Access for People with Disabilities

Date posted to site: April 12, 2010

In an unprecedented settlement announced today, two individuals with disabilities, two disability rights organizations, and the California Department of Transportation ("Caltrans") have reached a comprehensive plan that will provide access for persons with mobility and vision disabilities to 2,500 miles of sidewalk and Park and Ride facilities across the State of California that are owned or maintained by Caltrans.

Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Leads the Way!

Date posted to site: April 10, 2010

The Essex County AAC is paving the way for a more inclusive Ontario by being the first AAC to become a member of the www.COAAC.ca website.

Ontario Tory MPP Barrett Proposes ODSP Improvements

Date posted to site: April 10, 2010

ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) is an odorous program that essential consigns people with disabilities to a life of despairing poverty, penalizing them for having acquired injuries, chronic illnesses, and work-interfering conditions. If you're not a "productive" member of society, then we shall make your life a living hell with no way out. Got CPP Disability, we'll take that away from you. Got victim compensation, even if you're a child, we'll take that away from you. Got assets and savings that'll allow you to pay for your extra and expensive medical needs or (gasp) repairs to your home, we won't cover you. If you try to work, even a little bit, your pathetic allotment shall be cut by taking 50% of your earnings to spiral you down further. And now we think you should go back to your cheap junk food diet, no more food supplements so that you can eat healthily like your fellow productive members of society.

Learning the Price of Dignity and Also the Need to Dream Big

Date posted to site: April 10, 2010

I have lived in Thunder Bay my whole life. It's where I married and had a beautiful daughter. It's also where I lived in a shelter for three months after escaping my husband's alcohol-fuelled abuse. I was trying to teach at the college at the time, but the almost unbearable stress I was experiencing caused my seizures to increase to the point where I couldn't work and had to go on welfare for five years. Epilepsy and other problems such as multiple sclerosis and depression constricted my life. I felt as though I was living in a house of cards that could topple any second.

AODA Alliance Updates

Date posted to site: April 10, 2010

Great Media Coverage of our Campaign to Strengthen Bill 231 - Premier McGuinty Reportedly Open to Consider New Voting Technology- Attend Standing Committee's April 14 2010 Clause-by-clause Debates on Bill 231

See http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/04072010.asp

Rising Concern About Elevator, Accessibility at Durham Arena

Date posted to site: April 10, 2010

Plans that do not include an elevator in the Durham Arena sparked some concerns from members of the public this week. After a public information session held at the Durham Community Centre at the end of March, West Grey Coun. Carol Lawrence, chair of the building committee, brought forth the comments to council.

Media Advisory - City of Sarnia Revokes Anachronistic By-laws Targeting Disabled

Date posted to site: April 09, 2010

On Monday, April 12 Sarnia City Council meets to enact new by-laws relating to group homes, throwing out regulations in their Zoning By-law and Official Plan that restricted where people with disabilities could live in supported housing.

National Highway Safety Administration Report

Date posted to site: April 09, 2010

For the past year the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has studied the impact of hybrid and electric vehicles on blind and visually impaired pedestrians.

Earlier this week NHTSA released phase I of a study entitled Quieter Cars and the Safety Of Blind Pedestrians.

Figures of Speech: Audio-Describers Deliver Theatre to Imagination of Visually Impaired

Date posted to site: April 06, 2010

Narrated performance of The Miracle Worker is the first of its kind in Canada

Sitting in an audio booth above the stage, Teri Snelgrove describes The Miracle Worker to blind audience members during a performance at the Vancouver Playhouse.

Disabled Parking Spots Still Abused, Advocates Say

Date posted to site: April 06, 2010

Despite crackdown, enforcement efforts seen as inadequate

Since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995, Randi Daniels has had countless arguments with scofflaws. She and her husband are used to pulling up to a designated parking space in a mall, only to find it occupied by a seemingly able-bodied person loading up heavy grocery bags.

"I've been sworn at, when I was using a walker," says the 61-year-old, who's now in a wheelchair. "I say to them, ';I hope you never, ever need this spot.'"

Welland May Be Most Accessible Community: Findlay

Date posted to site: April 06, 2010

WELLAND - Not being able to access offices at a city hall or the library or being visually impaired and unable to see crosswalk signals are challenges some people with disabilities face every day.

But Welland is complying with new accessibility legislation, including to install audible pedestrian crossings, retrofit buildings and purchase wheelchair accessible buses.

Polling Station Was Spiked By Volleyball Game

Date posted to site: April 06, 2010

Disabled group pushing for legislation to protect rights

A provincial byelection polling station was bounced to a non-accessible site by a volleyball game, disability activists say.

Members of the Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance have been trying to find out since February why a Toronto Centre polling station was moved to a room that could be accessed only by stairs.

Clients Unleash Litany of Complaints About CNIB

Date posted to site: April 05, 2010

Say charity operates more like corporation

NOW that CNIB workers are back on the job, a group of blind Winnipeggers says the recent labour dispute points to deeper troubles at the charity.

A half-dozen longtime clients of the CNIB's Winnipeg office told the Free Press the charity operates more like a corporation, with hefty executive salaries, a swanky new downtown Toronto headquarters and little accountability.

Sign the GOVERNMENT OF CANADA Website Accessibility Petition

Date posted to site: April 03, 2010

Access to Canadian Government information and services is a right afforded to all Canadians under the provisions of Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

"Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability."

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)is calling upon the Government of Canada to ensure that all information and services offered through Federal Government websites be made to comply with WCAG 2.0 guidelines by December 31, 2010. Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/GCWAP/petition.html

University Fails to Consult Union on AODA Implementation

Date posted to site: April 02, 2010

Recently, many CUPE3908 faculty received a notice from their Chairs that seemed to indicate they would be required to complete "COU/AODA Training".

The Union did not receive any notice of the University's plan for implementing the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which comes into force gradually over the next few years. We are currently awaiting clarification of how this will affect our members.

letter sent to IELA from Canadian Federation of the Blind (CFB)

Date posted to site: April 02, 2010

I am writing on behalf of the Canadian Federation of the Blind (CFB) in response to the NGO proposal you distributed. Our intent is to outline certain key points in our position regarding equitable library access for blind Canadians.

People With Disabilities More Prone to Poverty

Date posted to site: April 02, 2010

The story you won't see on CBC Charlottetown but it's the same story on PEI

CBC Winnipeg - For many Manitobans there is a link between living in poverty and living with a disability.

Laurie Helgason, who requires a wheelchair after an unfortunate gym accident, believes there is a link between poverty and disability as employers are reticent to hire those with extra needs.

"All of us have the desire to do something with our lives," said Helgason. "But when you go to an employer with a disability he automatically thinks cost 'what will it cost me to employ this person.'"

Website Accessibility for the Blind Gaining Ground

Date posted to site: March 31, 2010

According to the National Coalition for Vision Health, the number of visually impaired and blind Canadians will double over the next 25 years. (iStock)" Ihave lived a very complex existence," says Valentina Gal, a novel writer and consultant based in Toronto who says technology is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's essential for her writing. On the other, even the simplest of Google searches can turn into an hours-long marathon surfing session.

That's because Gal has been blind since birth. And like many visually impaired people, she finds that functioning in the online world is not easy. That's despite the fact there are text-to-speech screen readers, Braille printers and other tools to help the cause.

May

Seeking a New Deal on Dyslexia

Date posted to site: May 31, 2010

A NATION as self-confident as Australia doesn't expect to receive lessons in advanced education practices from such humble places as Irvinestown, a small village two hours west of Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Yet that's what Nola Firth found this year when she visited the 250 students at the village's St Paul's Primary School, where sophisticated and effective strategies were being used to deal with dyslexia.

New Draft of BS8878 on Web Accessibility Published for Consultation

Date posted to site: May 31, 2010

The British Standards Institute has just released a new draft of the proposed new British Standard, BS 8878:2010: Web Accessibility - A Code of Practice.

Pair Receive BMAAC Awards

Date posted to site: May 31, 2010

Two elevators installed at the Brockville Arts Centre have provided a lift for the Brockville Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (BMAAC).

The elevators, which provide access to the stage and orchestra pit, were the brainchild of Brockville Concert Band conductor Lance Besharah, who was one of two city residents recognized by the committee on Tuesday.

Changing Attitudes Reducing Stigma of Hearing Loss

Date posted to site: May 29, 2010

Rex Banks says it's no mystery why many people are reluctant to accept they no longer hear as well as they once did.

"It's a loss," says Banks, the Canadian Hearing Society's director of hearing health care. "People grieve."

Police, Mental Health Workers to Join Forces

Date posted to site: May 29, 2010

New initiative aims to steer mentally ill petty crime suspects out of justice system

Police in Calgary are teaming up with Alberta Health Services to provide treatment instead of jail for people with mental health and addiction issues who have been accused of petty crimes.

Henderson: Discrimination, Disrespect a fact for people with disabilities, study finds

Date posted to site: May 29, 2010

A man enters a restaurant in a major mall with his fiancée. They are asked to leave because the restaurant says his wheelchair is a fire hazard.

A woman plans to spend a couple of hours out with friends. Because the ride she has booked to transport her and her wheelchair is 90 minutes late, she can spend only 20 minutes with her friends before she has to leave.

Are people with disabilities discriminated against in this country? You bet.

Google Fixed the Accessibility Problem

Date posted to site: May 25, 2010

Submitted by Tom on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 22:14

Earlier I posted about how Google made its front page inaccessible to many people with disabilities. In the meantime, the problem got resolved, but this is not the end of story.

Just to recap, what happened was ten seconds after opening the Google front page, a sound started playing. It made it next to impossible for blind people to navigate the page with their screen reader. When you hear music, it is hard to understand your screen reader.

'Safety Valve' Needed to Protect Employees With Self-Insured Plans, Many Say

Date posted to site: May 25, 2010

More than a million Canadians are counting on disability insurance plans that don't guarantee benefits if their employer goes bankrupt.

Advocates say it's time for regulations to protect them.

"An insurance that doesn't give any guarantee is not an insurance, so don't fool people," said Josée Marin, who only learned her own insurance fell into that category after her employer, Nortel Networks, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Now she is warning other Canadians they may risk they same fate.

Denmark: Survey Results On The Web Accessibility Of Government Websites

Date posted to site: May 25, 2010

According to a survey conducted on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation by a consulting firm specialising in information technology for people with disabilities, 52 % of the Danish government websites are not fully e-accessible to people with various types of disabilities.

Deaf State Workers Sue Over Lack of Services

Date posted to site: May 24, 2010

Deaf and hard-of-hearing state employees in California are regularly denied sign language interpreters for meetings and have been left behind during emergency evacuations because of a failure to accommodate their disability, according to a lawsuit filed Friday.

Dreams Really Do Come True: Husband, Wife Together at Last

Date posted to site: May 22, 2010

Ricky Brooks, 29, is holding court, jumpy with the news.

He's in the lobby of Saint-Vincent Hospital - hollering at the passing girls, jawing with the boys, his electric wheelchair spinning and beeping, his little horn honking.

A big kid with a broken body and a seriously large smile. It's just the way he rolls.

Ensuring the Safety and Security of the Hearing Impaired, at Work and at Home

Date posted to site: May 21, 2010

The wail of a fire alarm and the ringing of the doorbell are effective warnings for people who hear them.

But for over 350,000 Canadians who are deaf or suffer major hearing loss, danger signals must be presented in a different way.

A World of Rights

Date posted to site: May 20, 2010

Arlene Kanter hopes to fight for disabled rights.

For Arlene Kanter the fight for equal rights and social recognition for people with disabilities is a universal battle.

Here this year on a Fulbright scholarship to help Tel Aviv University establish the country's first academic program in disability studies, the Syracuse University College of Law professor says that what has struck her most since arriving in August is how myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities transcend local cultural and religious boundaries.

Accessibility at Universities is 'a Moral Obligation': Advocate

Date posted to site: May 20, 2010

"Disability is one element of the identity that makes a person whole," says Rabia Kedhr, speaking in Brock's Sankey Chamber.

As a university student, Rabia Kedhr was accommodated, but she wasn't always included. And that's something higher education needs to change, she says.

Accessibility Finally Within Reach

Date posted to site: May 20, 2010

If you can place one foot in front of another, then a flight of stairs isn't a daunting obstacle. If you can see the challenges that lie ahead, then a narrow, cluttered hallway isn't a death trap. And if you can hear the birds chirp in the morning, then placing an order at a favourite restaurant isn't often lost in translation.

Envisioning New Meanings Launches New Website

Date posted to site: May 19, 2010

Envisioning New Meanings uses the power of image and story to transform the way people see disability and difference.

The website features photographs and digital stories created by women with disabilities and physical differences. The women's self portraits explore issues of identity and the meaning they find in their experiences, and capture their perspectives on life.

The women's art and stories are relevant to everyone. Whether we have a disability, difference or not, the images:

ask us to explore our own responses to diverse bodies and appearances
encourage us to accept our bodies and selves
celebrate the self-expression and accomplishments of women living with disability and difference.

What can you envision for yourself?

New Initiative Aims to Steer Mentally Ill Petty Crime Suspects Out of Justice System

Date posted to site: May 19, 2010

Police in Calgary are teaming up with Alberta Health Services to provide treatment instead of jail for people with mental health and addiction issues who have been accused of petty crimes.

Mom Backs Disabled Son's Business Venture

Date posted to site: May 18, 2010

Anne Marie Fantin has worried about what job her son Eric could find ever since he entered grade school.

It sounds like a typical mom thing until you hear about the fear, anxiety and sadness that sometimes envelopes a parent with an intellectually challenged child.

"What happens to him when I'm gone? Who's going to take care of him and make sure they're living a quality of life they deserve?"

Web Accessibility: Text-only Versions

Date posted to site: May 17, 2010

One of the myths of web accessibility is that people with disabilities benefit from text-only versions. The truth is that practically nobody with a disability benefits in any way from a text-only version at all. Text-only versions may be of some benefit to people with slow Internet connections, but not to people with disabilities (unless they happen to have slow Internet connections). In almost every case, it would be better-much better, usually-to fix the original version than to create an alternative text-only version.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=218

Software Speaks Volumes to Hearing Impaired

Date posted to site: May 17, 2010

WELLAND - Accessing information just got easier for Wellanders who have hearing impairments.

The installation of new software called TextNet at Welland Civic Square allows deaf or hard of hearing citizens to communicate with municipal government employees by using their computers instead of struggling to get their message across over the telephone or in person.

Calling Out Bus Stops Now a Human Right

Date posted to site: May 17, 2010

Grand River Transit is spending $2.5 million to improve service for blind and deaf passengers.

That's the cost to buy more technology to automate the announcement of bus stops, using speakers and digital readouts. By October, 161 buses (74 per cent of the fleet) will have this technology, already in use on express routes. All buses are planned to have it by 2014 as older buses are replaced.

Bad Eyes Sees the PDF Light

Date posted to site: May 15, 2010

By Geof Collis
Badeyes Design & Consulting

Ok, you win!! I've been converted!!

I've been advocating for years the need for providing an alternate document along with the Portable Document Format (PDF) because all I ever received was an inaccessible PDF.

I asked nicely over and over again. I tried real hard to be patient. When push came to shove, I filed a Human Rights complaint. Still to this day your websites are littered with inaccessible PDFs. I almost gave up!!!

Well, almost.

Blind Man Wants Better Voting Tools

Date posted to site: May 14, 2010

A Saskatoon man is calling for a better system to allow people with a visual impairment to vote with certainty and secrecy, conditions he says are currently lacking at provincial election time.

Robin East, who is legally blind, says he has only two options to mark a ballot: have someone help him, or insert his ballot into a sleeve that has braille on it, and hope his mark is correctly aligned.

Changes to Government Parking Policy Will Unfairly Target Workers With Disabilities

Date posted to site: May 14, 2010

OTTAWA-The Public Service Alliance of Canada is concerned that impending changes to the federal government's parking policy will adversely affect workers with disabilities, creating a barrier that will make it more difficult to access their workplaces. PSAC represents 172,000 workers, the majority of whom are in the federal public sector.

Our Government Shall Provide?

Date posted to site: May 14, 2010

Dear Editor:

According to the Service Canada website there are three requirements to be met to be eligible for the Canadian Pension Plan Disability plan. First, you must be under 65 years of age. Second, you had to have stopped work because of medical conditions and third, you had to have paid into CPP for at least 25 years and made valid contributions to the plan in three of the last six years.

Isn't it wonderful that we Canadians are so well provided for that if medically unable to work we don't have to worry about not having an income? It really makes paying all these taxes worthwhile. It's like paying on an insurance policy.

The website further states that at least 75 per cent of applications are decided within four months. Perfect! By the time your sick benefits from Employment Insurance run out your Canada Disability Pension should kick in.

Even though you are medically unfit, life is still manageable. We have come to learn not to believe everything you read even if it comes from the Canadian government.

Why a Binding Treaty for the Visually Impaired at WIPO?

Date posted to site: May 13, 2010

The right to read for disabled people: Does the EU support a treaty for blind and other reading disabled people?
Session: Why a binding treaty for the visually impaired at WIPO?

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen,

My name is Bárbara Martin and I am the Director of the Technical Office of European Affairs of ONCE, the Spanish National Organization of the Blind.

First of all, on behalf of the entire organisation, I would like to thank the European Blind Union (EBU) and Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue for allowing us to explain why we are so concerned about a binding treaty for the visually impaired at WIPO is needed. But before that, and very briefly, let me introduce ONCE to you:

Oratio for BlackBerry® Is Here

Date posted to site: May 12, 2010

Longueuil, QC, Canada and Barcelona, Spain - HumanWare and Code Factory announced that Oratio for BlackBerry(R) smartphones can be purchased. Formally known as Orator for BlackBerry smartphones, Oratio is a screen reader software solution that enables visually impaired users to access and operate BlackBerry smartphones using state of the art Text-To-Speech technology to convert the visual information displayed on the BlackBerry smartphone screen into an intuitive speech output. This enables users to use BlackBerry users to increase their independence and productivity in today's competitive world.

Wanted: People With Disabilities to Work in High-Level Banking Jobs

Date posted to site: May 11, 2010

TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - JVS Toronto, a non-profit organization that helps people find jobs, is partnering with a major Canadian bank which is trying to place people with disabilities in high-level jobs. The challenge is finding the employees.

No Money for Eye Drug: Province

Date posted to site: May 07, 2010

Lucentis is a drug injected to combat macular degeneration. (CBC)
Nova Scotia's Minister of Health says the province cannot afford to cover the costs of a drug used to treat age-related vision loss.

AODA Alliance Updates

Date posted to site: May 07, 2010

Bill 231 Passes Third Reading Vote Today at Queen's Park -AODA Alliance Writes Elections Ontario to Call for Speedy Action on Elections Accessibility

May 3, 2010
Today, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 231 on Third Reading. This is the last step that the Legislature needs to take on this proposed legislation. Bill 231 is the McGuinty Government's proposal to modernize Ontario elections, including addressing barriers impeding voters and candidates with disabilities.

See http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/05032010.asp

Canadian Civil Liberties Association Calls on Elections Ontario to Act Promptly to Ensure Fully Accessible Elections for Voters with Disabilities

On May 4, 2010, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association wrote Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer, Greg Essensa. (Letter set out at link below.) In their letter, the CCLA echoed our call for prompt action by Elections Ontario to ensure fully accessible elections in Ontario for voters with disabilities.

See http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/05052010.asp

MS patients Rally for Experimental Treatment

Date posted to site: May 06, 2010

Canadians with multiple sclerosis rallied across the country Wednesday to demand access to a controversial procedure not available in Canada or covered by provincial health insurance policies.

The procedure, developed by Italian researcher Dr. Paolo Zamboni, involves angioplasty to help ease the flow in neck veins of blood from the brain to the heart. Zamboni believes narrowed or blocked veins force blood to move backwards or reflux back into the brain and spine, causing damage.

Access is a Right and Good Public Policy

Date posted to site: May 05, 2010

On May 30 the Province of Manitoba will kick off Manitoba Access Awareness Week (May 30 to June 5).

The week will be a celebration as well as a chance for the disability community to highlight accessibility issues.

At its core access for all Manitobans means equal opportunity for people with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of community life. It is also referred to as full citizenship.

Northumberland County Accessibility Forum

Date posted to site: May 04, 2010

The Northumberland County Accessibility Advisory Committee is pleased to host its second annual Accessibility Forum.

HWDSB Opens its Doors to Be More Accessible and Inclusive

Date posted to site: May 04, 2010

Hamilton, ON - April 26, 2010: Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) has released two documents that build on a vision of an accessible school Board for all. Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Policy and the Draft Equity Policy Supporting Guidelines: Persons with Disabilities, part of the Board's Equity Policy, are now available for public feedback.

Court: Theaters Must Offer Services for Disabled

Date posted to site: May 04, 2010

Theater owners have to make special devices available to ensure those with hearing and vision disabilities can enjoy the movies, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

Back to Table of Contents

June

Australian Government Releases the Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy (NTS)

Date posted to site: June 30, 2010

It is our pleasure to announce that the Australian Government Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy (NTS) was released today by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, the Honourable Lindsay Tanner, MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Honourable Bill Shorten, MP.

Plants Hanging Too Low for Unsighted Residents

Date posted to site: June 28, 2010

-Denise Chamberlain is not tall. In fact, she is only 5 feet two inches tall. But the blind woman is certainly tall enough to walk regularly into the hanging plants that Cobourg parks department employees have hung from banner support poles.

Deaf protester expected in court today

Date posted to site: June 28, 2010

Family and friends of Emomotimi Azorbo, a deaf protestor who was arrested Friday, waited at the west-end courthouse where all G20 bail hearings take place this morning in the rain.

Azorbo, 30, was arrested at the intersection of College and Yonge after when he did not heed police commands to stay off the road, his friends say.

Mental Health Training Urged

Date posted to site: June 28, 2010

Report: Recommendations stem from an incident last fall at the UWO involving a student and campus and London police

Mental health awareness training should be a priority for University of Western Ontario police, says a just-released report stemming from a violent arrest caught on YouTube

Will the McGuinty Government Keep Its Election Promise of Effective Enforcement for the AODA?

Date posted to site: June 26, 2010

In the 2003 provincial election, Dalton McGuinty promised that the Disabilities Act his Government would pass would have effective enforcement.

Seven years later, and half a year after the first accessibility standard went into effect under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are only now learning some limited details about what enforcement there will be.

Henderson: Enough with the Talk. It's Time for Action

Date posted to site: June 26, 2010

Time to get the lead out.

We've had enough committees, more than enough promises. If Ontario is serious about being an inclusive province, the time is now.

Time to get beyond the cumbersome committee process and establish an arms-length Ontario Accessibility Standards Board to lead the way.

Blind Users See Digital Divide in New Generation Phones

Date posted to site: June 25, 2010

Smartphones can be pretty clueless when it comes to blind or visually impaired users.

For millions of consumers with normal vision, smartphones offer almost effortless conference calling, e-mailing and Internet browsing. They make it easy to find a gas station, a rental car or a recipe. Vast music libraries and video games are expected features for a device with a $200 to $600 price tag.

But for many in the blind and visually impaired community, the absence of physical buttons on most smartphones makes interactions with some devices virtually impossible.

Attention: Consumers with Disabilities Help Disability Rights Advocates Oppose Energy Utility Rate Increases

Date posted to site: June 25, 2010

Editors Note: Sounds like this could apply here in Ontario as well.

California's biggest energy utilities are seeking to raise or redesign their rates in a way that will harm the state's low-income residents.

Goar: A Province Where Everyone Can Live in Dignity

Date posted to site: June 23, 2010

The ambitious welfare reform blueprint presented to the Ontario government last week by the 11-member advisory council it appointed six months ago, is an accurate reflection of the hunger in the province for real solutions, not just administrative tinkering. But it isn't what the government asked for.

Mcguinty Government Uses Public Tax Dollars to Develop Public Transit Smart Cards with Barriers Against People With Disabilities

Date posted to site: June 22, 2010

We want to bring to your attention a very troubling example that shows the need for the Ontario Government to develop a new, concerted policy, procedure and practice to ensure that it does not use public funds to create, perpetuate or exacerbate barriers against persons with disabilities in goods, services or facilities. This is also a compelling case showing why the forthcoming Information and Communication Accessibility Standard, which the Government is still developing, must effectively set strong accessibility requirements for electronic kiosks.

"An Internal Survey Reveals That the Disability Award is the Preferred Option for the Majority of Veteran Beneficiaries" - Jean-Pierre Blackburn

Date posted to site: June 22, 2010

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 21, 2010) - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), today made public the findings from an internal survey conducted by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)'s Disability Award program. The Disability Award is a lump-sum, tax-free payment available to Canadian Forces members and Veterans injured in service. It provides them with immediate financial help.

Dispelling Four Myths About People With Disabilities Studying in the U.S.

Date posted to site: June 21, 2010

Are you or someone with a disability you know interested in studying in the U.S., but unsure about what to expect? Since the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2008, people with disabilities have been uniting for equal access in all sectors of society and lives free from discrimination. Education for people with disabilities worldwide is improving, and so are opportunities to take advantage of study in the U.S. Learn more about reality versus stereotype on studying in the United States as a person with a disability.

Autism Program Helps Students Cope

Date posted to site: June 21, 2010

Drew Kloeble graduates as one of the first participants in an autism program at Evan Hardy Collegiate

The Graduates is a series of profiles on some of the city's most inspiring graduates of 2010, those who faced significant challenges on their journey to earn a secondary school diploma.

Will the McGuinty Government Fully Implement the Recommendations of the Government-Appointed Charles Beer Independent Review of the AODA?

Date posted to site: June 19, 2010

A very current question in our campaign for a fully-accessible Ontario is whether the McGuinty Government will fully implement the Report of the Government-appointed Charles Beer Independent Review of the AODA. The McGuinty Government received the Beer Report in February 2010, some four months ago. It did not release it to the public until May 31, 2010.

Releasing Constraints: The Impacts of Increased Accessibility on Ontario's Economy

Date posted to site: June 19, 2010

In 2005, the Ontario Legislature passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to improve accessibility across the province. The disability community saw the legislation as a milestone in the government's commitment to creating a level playing field for all Ontarians. But many businesses and municipalities across the province responded with skepticism, believing the act would result in increased costs and result in few benefits. However

Aging Drivers: Canada Needs Senior-Friendly Public Transit - Sooner, Not Later, say experts

Date posted to site: June 19, 2010

Bob Ferguson figures he'll drive for at least another two years. He'll be 90 then. His father drove until the age of 92.

Canadian Transportation Agency Uses New Communications Tool to Improve Service to Persons With Disabilities

Date posted to site: June 18, 2010

Selected print publications from the Canadian Transportation Agency are now available as digital talking books - a major service improvement for persons with impaired vision or who cannot use print media.

National Federation of the Blind Files Suit Against Four California Law Schools

Date posted to site: June 17, 2010

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people, and three blind students who have applied or are considering applying to law school in California-Deepa Goraya, Bruce J. Sexton, and Claire Stanley-filed an amended lawsuit yesterday against the Law School Admissions Council and four California law schools for violating provisions of the California Disabled Persons Act, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Commentary: Is Disability EVEN on the G-8/G-20 Radar Screen??

Date posted to site: June 16, 2010

By John Rae
June 16, 2010

At major local, national and international gatherings that discuss issues facing the future needs in our society, it is common to consider the inequities of women, the discrimination facing indigenous groups or racial minorities, and nowadays one can expect calls to discuss the future of our planet to be high on some groups' agendas. This is perfectly appropriate.

Ombudsman 'Distressed' by Treatment of Children

Date posted to site: June 16, 2010

Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin released his annual report on Tuesday.

(Canadian Press) Dozens of Ontario families are still being asked to give up custody of their special needs children in order to get the care they need, Ontario's ombudsman said Tuesday.

She Just Wanted to Ride the Bus

Date posted to site: June 16, 2010

When GO buses first arrived in Niagara, they were hailed by local politicians and transit buffs alike as a boon for the region.

If they looked at the fine print, however, they would have known GO bus routes in Niagara are accessible to everyone except those with disabilities.

Sarnia-Lambton Recognizes Mayor with Hero Award

Date posted to site: June 16, 2010

Mike Bradley has 'changed the lives of many local residents'

Community Living Sarnia-Lambton (CLSL) is saluting a local mayor touted as "a champion for people living with disabilities."

The association tipped its hat to Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley by presenting him with a hero award recently. CLSL honoured Bradley "for his endless contribution and promotion of community inclusion and employment of persons with disabilities," says Bob Vansickle, supervisor of community employment options at CLSL.

Report Offers Roadmap to Success for Postsecondary Students with Autism

Date posted to site: June 15, 2010

TORONTO, June 14 /CNW/ - A new report released today estimates that 5,800 students identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are currently in Ontario's publicly funded secondary schools. School staff expect that approximately 1,100 of these students will seek to enter college or university between 2009 and 2011.

Do We Really Need to Label People?

Date posted to site: June 14, 2010

"Impaired."

Without a doubt, the I-word is the hands-down winner among terms offensive to Star readers when used in reference to people with disabilities. It's also, indubitably one of the most contentious and ubiquitous phrases in everything from media reports to human rights legislation.

Don't Sideline Workers With Disabilities

Date posted to site: June 14, 2010

Halifax CBC Radio listeners' interest concerning the whereabouts of familiar host, Elizabeth Logan, was piqued recently when her co-host, Don Connolly, interviewed her about her diagnosis of lupus. She shared how the illness has impacted her energy levels and her ability to work the hours she had regularly maintained on Information Morning.

Self-Harm Visits to Emergency Room (ER) a Greater Problem in Waterloo Region Than Across Province

Date posted to site: June 14, 2010

WATERLOO REGION - People intentionally hurt themselves in this area far more than across most of the province, ranking Waterloo Wellington third worst after the exceptionally high rates in Northern Ontario, according to a recent study.

AODA Alliance Releases its Detailed Analysis of the Charles Beer Independent Review Report on the Effectiveness of the Government's Implementation of the AODA

Date posted to site: June 11, 2010

The AODA Alliance here releases a thorough analysis of the Charles Beer Independent Review of the Ontario Government's implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (about 20 pages). We hope you find this helpful as an explanation of what the Report found, and how much it responds to concerns and issues we have been raising.

The disability community advocated for the AODA to include a requirement that there be periodic independent reviews of the AODA's implementation, to get an independent assessment of how effective is this law and its implementation. The Charles Beer Independent Review shows that it was very important for this Independent Review process to be included in the AODA. It now remains to be seen whether the Government will implement this Report fully, or leave it to gather dust on some shelf.

New Genetic Findings Expected to Accelerate Autism Testing and Development of Treatments

Date posted to site: June 11, 2010

Canadian and international scientists have uncovered key changes in DNA in individuals with autism. The Phase 2 results of the multinational Autism Genome Project Consortium, published in the June 9 advance online edition of Nature, substantiate the importance of genes as susceptibility factors in autism spectrum disorders.

Many Thanks to Accessibility Advisory Committees

Date posted to site: June 10, 2010

By Suzanne Share
June 10, 2010

Now that the Built Environment Standard Committee for the Province of Ontario has completed their work, my first instinct was to talk about the experience and the outcome. Before putting fingers to the keyboard, another topic came to the forefront. The obvious and first thing to state is I owe a debt of thanks to the participants of a Yahoo Group the Coalition of Ontario Accessibility Advisory Committees (COAAC www.coaac.ca).

Open Letter to Members of the AODA Alliance

Date posted to site: June 09, 2010

Dear Alliance Members:

We are writing this open letter to the membership of the AODA Alliance to thank you for your tremendous efforts and your leadership in addressing accessibility-rights issues, as well as for the inspiration and support you have given those of us outside Ontario who are working to build on your experience and successes.

A Review of the MoreKeyboard

Date posted to site: June 09, 2010

By John M. Williams

Computers are essential to my survival. As I glide through my sixties, the standard keyboard no longer meets my word processing needs. Because of declining vision and dexterity challenges, I need a keyboard with larger keys, various adjustable heights, larger letters and a lighter key touch. For over a year, I have been testing various keyboards and had not found one to address my needs. And so when I discovered the MoreKeyboard (www.morekeyboard.com}, I decided to try it. I am glad I did.

Problems With Using Website Validation Services

Date posted to site: June 08, 2010

Amongst the basic skills that fledgling designers and developers should know is the art of website validation.

Website validation consists of using a series of tools such as W3C's Markup Validation Service that can actively seek out and explain the problems and inconsistencies within our work.

While the use of such tools has benefits (in the sense of being an automated fresh pair of eyes), a worrying trend of either over or under-dependence keeps rearing its ugly head.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=228

Designing Section 508 Compliant Web Sites Training

Date posted to site: June 07, 2010

Learn how to meet the Section 508 requirements when designing web sites or web applications.

Next class:
June 24, 2010 9 AM-1 PM
Alexandria, Virginia (near the metro)

For more info visit http://www.evengrounds.com/section-508-compliant-web-sites-training

The Strength and Potential of Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committees (MAACs)

Date posted to site: June 05, 2010

By Geof Collis

After reading the above named section from the Report of the Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/publications/accessibility/charles_beer/tableOfContents.aspx it has become even more apparent that a venue like www.coaac.ca along with its ListServe is exactly what Charles Beer is referring to.

Report of the Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

Date posted to site: June 05, 2010

Charting a Path Forward:
Charles Beer, Independent Reviewer

In June 2009, I was appointed by the Ontario government to conduct an independent review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The subject matter of this review is vitally important to the people of Ontario because accessibility for persons with disabilities strengthens our society, our economy and our quality of life.

Group Protests Cut of Special Dietary Allowance

Date posted to site: June 04, 2010

EMC News - Over 30 demonstrators from CUPE, OPSUE and Ontario Coalition Against Poverty picketed the office of MPP Madeline Meillure on May 20, to protest the cut funding of the Special Dietary Allowance (SDA) from the Ontario budget.

How to Make the Web Accessible to Everyone

Date posted to site: June 03, 2010

Despite a range of legislation and best practice advice, cyberspace is still far from equitable for those of us "non-standard" enough to be using adaptive or assistive technology.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=226

New ROM Program Allows Blind Visitors to Touch Exhibits

Date posted to site: June 03, 2010

Museum, which received $1.5-million gift from anonymous donor, also launching American Sign Language tours for the deaf

Anne Henderson crouches forward, running her gloved hand along the carved surface of the ancient burial tomb and feeling for the immortal God's "little tummy" that the museum worker tells her she will find. "It's actually a big tummy," Ms. Henderson says when she finally feels it, laughing. She reaches her arm up, and the museum guide, Elsie Lo, pulls her back to her feet.

National Access Awareness Week

Date posted to site: June 03, 2010

Op-Ed from Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services

Twenty-five years before he carried the Olympic torch in Vancouver, Rick Hansen inspired a nation by travelling 40,000 km around the world in his wheelchair. Rick shared a message that was the genesis of National Access Awareness Week - a message that is the foundation of our government's plan for a stronger, accessible Ontario.

Hybrid Cars Not Noisy Enough, Group Says

Date posted to site: June 02, 2010

Pose risk to pedestrians, the blind Calls for addition of audible devices to help people detect presence of vehicles

The announcement that a new brand of electric car will soon be hitting the province coincides with Quebec Week for the Disabled and concerns over safety risks the quiet vehicles could pose to the blind.

Student Creates Opportunity to Increase Accessibility

Date posted to site: June 02, 2010

Today, Pat Martin, NDP MP for Winnipeg Centre, will introduce a Private Member's Bill calling for an accessibility audit of federally regulated transportation systems. This initiative results from a high school student competition called Create Your Canada, where students were asked to draft a bill to change the way our country works. Sam Unrau, a Grade 12 student with disability at Argyle Alternative High School in Winnipeg, is the winner of the competition and his proposed Bill focuses on requiring the Government of Canada to undertake an accessibility audit of all federally regulated transportation systems.

Ontario Marks National Access Awareness Week

Date posted to site: June 01, 2010

McGuinty Government Breaking Down Barriers While Supporting Business

Ontario is celebrating National Access Awareness Week and marking the fifth anniversary of the province's groundbreaking Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Mom Fights for School Supports for Son

Date posted to site: June 01, 2010

A London-area mother who spent years trying to get special education support for her son with ADHD is fighting a human rights case that could change the way children with the disorder are treated in Ontario classrooms.

Back to Table of Contents

July

Open Letter - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA)

Date posted to site: July 31, 2010

By Catherine Gardner

Dear Premier Dalton McGuinty, (Open Letter)

Mr. McGuinty, I must ask how it is that people with disabilities can expect the AODA to have any enforcement teeth when the Leader of the Provincial Government which passed this AODA Act fails to provide accessibility at his own riding office!

The ADA and the Web: Concerns and Misconceptions

Date posted to site: July 31, 2010

WebAIM is often approached by individuals and organizations concerned about "ADA compliance" of their web site. This is a bit of a misnomer. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 pre-dates and does not address web accessibility at all. That may soon be changing.

Read more at
http://www.badeyes.com/?p=236

Revision of Minority Advantage

Date posted to site: July 31, 2010

Government and University of Waterloo (UW) attempting to even out the playing field

In light of the Conservative Government's recent proposed changes to the hiring practices in the public sector, the topic of fair legislations and policies about equality and justice has been a controversial one.

What is the Future of Screen Readers anyway?

Date posted to site: July 30, 2010

A week or so ago, the American Council of the Blind held a Future of Screen Readers panel as part of the Information Access Committee seminar at the ACB annual convention. Serotek was one of the companies invited to attend remotely via Skype. Other remote participants were GW Micro and NVDA.

Unfortunately technology failed (through no fault of Skype) and we remote participants did not get to contribute. But I thought the panel questions were extremely pertinent to all blind people and that it was important we add our voice to the conversation. So this blog post is Serotek's way of making sure our voice, and the voice of many who share our view, is also heard.

Obama Marks 20th Anniversary of Disabilities Act

Date posted to site: July 27, 2010

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama marked Monday's 20th anniversary of a landmark law barring discrimination against people with disabilities by promising to boost government efforts at recruiting, hiring and retaining people with physical and mental limitations.

Ontario Has Employment 'Bright Spots'

Date posted to site: July 24, 2010

Survey highlights need for more inclusion hiring practices

Communities in southwestern Ontario are showing promise when it comes to including people who have a disability in their local workforces.

Annual Report 2009-2010: Educate Empower Act

Date posted to site: July 23, 2010

For the past year, the OHRC has been busy reviewing and commenting on areas where standards are being developed under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Disability continues to be one of the most cited grounds in discrimination complaints so this will continue to be a priority. People continue to face issues like getting a ramp so they can enter their apartment building, or being put on the end of the list in hospital emergency rooms because they have a mental health issue.

OC Transpo Drivers Fail to Call Out 1 in 4 Stop Requests

Date posted to site: July 23, 2010

OC Transpo failed to call out stops on bus routes about 25 per cent of the time in June, according to a monthly report released by the transit service.

Infant is Returned to Blind Couple After State Places Her in Protective Custody

Date posted to site: July 23, 2010

Fifty-seven days after she was born, Mikaela Sinnett was home for the first time Tuesday with her parents, Erika Johnson and Blake Sinnett of Independence.

State officials had worried they were unable to care for her.

Political Candidates Shouldn't Pay for Accessibility: Report

Date posted to site: July 22, 2010

A new report says accessibility costs should not be included towards spending limits for political candidates with disabilities, but at least one former politician says more is needed to remove barriers.

In a report released Tuesday, the Ontario Human Rights Commission said costs like sign-language interpreting and braille translation should be exempted.

Celebrating Us!

Date posted to site: July 21, 2010

By John Rae
Notes for an address at the 7th Annual Simply People celebration at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto,Tuesday, July 20, 2010.

Tonight is for us, and about us! Tonight is a time for us to celebrate our accomplishments and to redouble our efforts to bring about true equality for all persons with disabilities in Canada and around the world.

Disabled Ontarians Can't Access New Transit Payment Method

Date posted to site: July 21, 2010

Prestocard is a new project meant to make it easier for Ontarians in the GTA, Hamilton and Ottawa to pay their transit fare. Throughout the summer people will be able to travel through various transit systems in Ontario simply by loading money onto a card using the phone, the website or a kiosk. Once the card is loaded with the desired amount, the traveler simply waves it in front of the station's reader and is on their way -- whether by bus, GO Train or subway.

£30 Million Fund to Support Young Carers Launched

Date posted to site: July 21, 2010

A £30 million fund to support young people who care for a disabled or sick relative has been launched today.

Youth in Focus, a funding programme from the Big Lottery Fund, aims to provide support young carers and other vulnerable youngsters, such as those leaving youth offending institutions and young people leaving care.

All America city discriminates against disabled

Date posted to site: July 19, 2010

Somerville - This past May, the Community Access and Inclusion Project took advantage of the HUD Annual Plan citizen comment period to send in a complaint regarding Somerville's continuing use of federal funds to roll out programs that treat residents with disabilities like second-class citizens.

Wrong Attitudes: Need for Changes in Culture Seen

Date posted to site: July 19, 2010

Americans with Disabilities Act turns 20

The Americans with Disabilities Act became law 20 years ago this month. Its rules prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity for people with disabilities focus on four key areas.

Essex County 8th Annual Accessibility Workshop Agenda OPENING DOORS AND MINDS

Date posted to site: July 17, 2010

This year's workshop will once again provide attendees with information on ways in which we can open up our community to people with disabilities. Topics such as planning for accessible communities and making our heritage accessible to everyone will be the focus of some of the concurrent workshops. Improve your understanding of some of the invisible disabilities such as dementia, mental health illnesses and non-verbal learning disabilities. Learn how technology can assist young adults as they transition into post-secondary education. Take the opportunity to visit the many booths at the Information Fair, all providing valuable information on resources and tools available to improve accessibility. Network and share best practices of accessibility initiatives within your community.

Terminating a Disabled Employee Can Be a Costly Decision

Date posted to site: July 17, 2010

A recent decision from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal serves as a reminder that employers should tread carefully when dealing with employees suffering from disabilities.

The Martin Luther King for the Disabled

Date posted to site: July 17, 2010

For curb cuts and wheelchair ramps to the U.S. law that's helping disabled everywhere, a debt is owed to a determined California quadriplegic

BERKELEY, CALIF.-A man in an iron lung, who fought to be educated and live independently here, was one of the early activists for disability rights.

This month, the late Ed Roberts is being honoured for work that helped lead to the Americans With Disabilities Act, one U.S. law which has helped change the world for the better.

Camp Does More Than Help Children With Physical Disabilities

Date posted to site: July 16, 2010

EMC News - For the first time visitor, Camp Merrywood looks like a typical children's summer vacation camp.

There are indoor and outdoor recreational and sports facilities, a swimming pool, community dining hall and the accommodation buildings with wilderness sounding names such as loon, blue heron, moose, bear, maple and pine. But a tour of its facilities reveals subtle differences, such as lower washroom counter tops for wheelchair accessibility, that make the summer retreat a welcoming place for the special children who spend time and have fun there. Located on a narrow peninsula that juts out into Rideau Lake between Perth and Smiths Falls, Merrywood gives the experience of being at camp to youngsters with physical disabilities.

PharmaPrix to Make Debit-Card Readers Accessible to Handicapped Customers

Date posted to site: July 16, 2010

Pharmaprix drug stores have agreed to make their debit card readers more accessible to handicapped customers, following an agreement with the Quebec Human Rights Commission.

City of London Embraces Sarnia Mayor's Hiring Challenge

Date posted to site: July 13, 2010

The City of London is joining other Ontario municipalities by including people who have a disability on its payroll.

With New Technology, Few Blind Canadians Read Braille

Date posted to site: July 13, 2010

It was once the most relied upon method of communication for the blind, but now Braille is the latest victim to technology.

Fewer than 10 per cent of the visually impaired use it, and many wonder if the dying language can be revived.

New Accessibility Committee Member Has Definite Ideas

Date posted to site: July 10, 2010

COBOURG - The newest member of Cobourg's accessibility advisory committee, 24-year-old Marty Cunningham, already has a couple of ideas about changes that might be needed on the accessibility front.

For him, a number-one concern is curb cuts that are not really structured to maintain the structural integrity of his motorized wheelchair.

Integrating People With Disabilities (PWD) Into the Workplace

Date posted to site: July 09, 2010

Making diversity a priority in Canadian organizations is imperative - not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is critical to the future success of our businesses and our economy.

Deaf Woman's Dog Gets No Respect

Date posted to site: July 09, 2010

Hearing Impaired HP Help Desk employee, Michele Simpson, was kicked off an STO bus on Wellington St. because she was assisted by a special hearing dog.

Local Families Challenged by Lack of Autism Therapists

Date posted to site: July 09, 2010

Parents of autistic children in this area are having trouble finding the home therapists they need to help their children find ways to communicate and learn effectively.

Amputee Has His Artificial Leg Ripped off by Police and Is Slammed in Makeshift Cell during G20 Summit

Date posted to site: July 08, 2010

John Pruyn wasn't much in the mood for celebrating Canada Day this year.

How could he be after the way he was treated a few days earlier in Toronto by figures of authority most of us were brought up to respect, our publicly paid-for police forces who are supposed to be there to serve and protect peaceful, law-abiding citizens like him.

Goar: The Disabled are the Forgotten Poor

Date posted to site: July 07, 2010

Spare a thought - or a bit of your Wednesday afternoon, if you can - for the quarter of a million disabled Ontarians who live in government-imposed poverty.

Disability and Professional Identity: Negotiated Change for Fitness to Practice

Date posted to site: July 07, 2010

Policy makers recognize that the employment challenges encountered by disabled people are due to a complex matrix of attitudes, hostile environments and disabling barriers (Barnes, 1992: Burchardt, 2005). Hence, established explanations for the challenges disabled people seem to experience in the labour market are no longer viewed as fitting by the same people and their organizations.

Many with Rheumatoid Arthritis Not Getting Needed Care

Date posted to site: July 07, 2010

Nearly 60 per cent of Ontario residents with rheumatoid arthritis aren't given quick access to a specialist, even though early treatment is critical, a new report finds.

Quiet Hybrids: An End to Their Sounds of Silence?

Date posted to site: July 06, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - The age of the silent hybrid may be coming to an end.

Gas-electric hybrids, propelled by electric motors at low speeds, are well-known for their quiet ride and great mileage. But their silence isn't always golden.

Call for Papers: Implementing eAccessibility as a Service Quality Factor

Date posted to site: July 06, 2010

The ePractice Journal has embarked on its next issue "Implementing eAccessibility as a service quality factor".

The forthcoming issue (volume 10) of the Journal has released a Call for Papers and encourages prospective article contributions. This Journal will consist of 8 papers, 4 of which have already been filled. There are 4 remaining slots open.

The OHRC Introduces a New Resource for Human Rights and Mental Health

Date posted to site: July 05, 2010

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has serious concerns about the degree to which people with mental health disabilities experience discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, and services. Discriminating against someone because they have a mental health disability or addiction is a violation of Ontario's Human Rights Code.

New Helping Hand for Those With Disabilities

Date posted to site: July 05, 2010

Artist Clare Hooper has an intellectual disability and is schizophrenic.

WHEN Clare Hooper left high school, she attended a special community centre to learn life skills and go on group excursions. As a person with intellectual disabilities and schizophrenia, she was given little choice. The government-funded centre offered her two days of activities with 30 others. And as her mother, Helen, remembers, Ms Hooper was ''bored and unfulfilled''.

Blind driver to take wheel in demonstration

Date posted to site: July 05, 2010

Addison Hugen, a blind student, is shown participating in the 2009 YouthSlam, a science camp for blind students, in College Park, Md. (National Federation of the Blind/Associated Press)

Getting behind the wheel has long been considered impossible for the blind, but that could soon change.

President's Message: Looking at the ADA on Its 20th Anniversary

Date posted to site: July 05, 2010

by Mitch Pomerantz
THE BRAILLE FORUM, Volume XLIX July 2010 No. 1

In my May 2008 President's Message, "ACB and the ADA Restoration Act," I discussed the Americans with Disabilities Act in the context of the then-proposed ADA Amendments Act. At the time I expressed serious concern over opening up the ADA to amendments, either positive or negative, given the existing political climate. Fortunately, it turned out that my concern was unfounded since the legislation passed without any narrowing of its scope.

Accept No Substitutes!

Date posted to site: July 03, 2010

By Geof Collis
Bad Eyes Design & Consulting

For the longest time I've was advocating against the Portable Document Format (PDF), none of them were accessible to my screen reader so I"Settled" for plain text, to me it was the lesser of evils. At no time did I ever care for the Microsoft Word format, next to an inaccessible PDF it was just as bad.

Program axed

Date posted to site: July 03, 2010

By Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com

There's good news and bad news associated with Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board's decision to cut a controversial $150-million injured worker retraining program, says the secretary-treasurer of the Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group.

Mayoral Candidates Debate Disability Issues

Date posted to site: July 01, 2010

Peter Athanasopoulos apologized to six mayoral candidates: the wheelchair-accessible cab he ordered had arrived 30 minutes late.

His difficulties reaching a debate on disability issues in Toronto, a city whose subway stations won't be guaranteed accessible until 2024, underscored Athanasopoulos's argument transportation is a "huge issue" for people like him.

Back to Table of Contents

August

Brain-Injured Man Mistreated on Bus: Family

Date posted to site: August 31, 2010

David Wilcox, 52, was in a car accident 25 years ago that left him with brain damage and slurred speech. (CBC) The family of a Nova Scotia man with brain damage plans to file a complaint after he said he was humiliated by an Acadian Lines bus driver on Saturday.

Please Endorse the AODA Alliance's Brief to Elections Ontario on Proposed Polling Station and Returning Office Site Accessibility Standard

Date posted to site: August 31, 2010

The AODA Alliance has submitted a brief to Elections Ontario on a proposed accessibility standard for sites for polling stations and returning offices in provincial elections.

Sorbara Advised Jail for Aggressive Autistic Teen, Mom Claims

Date posted to site: August 30, 2010

TORONTO - A co-founder of the Ontario Autism Coalition accused a Liberal provincial politician of suggesting she should have her autistic son jailed to get better treatment for him, but Greg Sorbara said his comments were misrepresented and he was set up.

Was the Ontario Government Forewarned That the Presto Smart Card Technology for Paying PUBLIC Transit Fares has Disability Barriers?

Date posted to site: August 28, 2010

Presto Systems, a part of the Ontario Government, has designed a Smart Carb system to let public transit passengers load their money on one Smart Card and then use that Smart Card for paying fares on different public transit systems in Ontario. Presto Systems told the AODA Alliance it is committed to ensure its Smart Card technology is accessible to persons with disabilities.