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Twitter Just Rolled Out a Feature That’s Inaccessible to Disabled Users

The company’s blunder is symptomatic of broader issues that pervade social media design and computer science education. By Sarah Katz
June 19, 2020

On Wednesday, Twitter announced that it added a new feature that will enable iOS users to create tweets using their voice. “Hear us out: we’re testing a new way to start a conversation,” it tweeted, sharing a flashing black-and-white image of its logo against a black background and an audio clip in which one can hear a voice saying, “One, two. One, two, mic check. (Taps mic.) Is this thing on? Tweet with your voice.”

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynews.ca/twitter-just-rolled-out-a-feature-thats-inaccessible-to-disabled-users/

Please Email the Ontario Government to Support the AODA Alliance’s Finalized Brief on Measures Needed to Meet the Needs of Students with Disabilities Now and During the Transition to Schools Re-Opening

Working at warp speed, the AODA Alliance has finalized and submitted its brief to the Ontario Government on what must be done to meet the needs of at least one third of a million students with disabilities in kindergarten to Grade 12 now and during the eventual transition to schools re-opening. We set out that 23-page brief below.

Read more at
https://aoda.ca/please-email-the-ontario-government-to-support-the-aoda-alliances-finalized-brief-on-measures-needed-to-meet-the-needs-of-students-with-disabilities-now-and-during-the-transition-to-schools-re-openi/

Accessible Formats After the COVID-19 Pandemic

As businesses encourage people to stay home and contact them remotely, people rely more on online information. For instance, more people may now use apps to access store flyers instead of reading hard-copy print versions. Similarly, people may order groceries online rather than browsing store aisles in person. Moreover, these ways of accessing information online may be new to some customers. As a result, staff may be supporting customers by describing how their online services work, or troubleshooting remotely.

Read more at
https://aoda.ca/accessible-formats-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/

B.C. Advocate Says Proposed Federal COVID-19 Benefit For Canadians With Disabilities Leaves Many with Nothing

The federal government is considering a one-time emergency benefit for people with disabilities to help them cope with the added costs imposed by the pandemic, but a B.C.-based disability advocate says even if the legislation does pass, it won’t go far enough.

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/b-c-advocate-says-proposed-federal-covid-19-benefit-for-canadians-with-disabilities-leaves-many-with-nothing/

New Coordinated Accessibility Strategy Guides Carleton’s Commitment on Campus

More than a quarter of first-year students at Carleton self-identify as having a disability, and about 11 per cent have registered with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities. An additional six per cent of university staff report having some type of disability.

Ensuring that all of our students, staff, and faculty fully participate in Carleton’s life, work, and community means building on a longstanding culture of accessibility and inclusiveness.

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/new-coordinated-accessibility-strategy-guides-carletons-commitment-on-campus/

New Student Group Seeks Mandatory Accessibility Classes for Lecturers

The group, known as the ‘Ability Co_op’, aims to promote awareness of students with disabilities on campus.

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/new-student-group-seeks-mandatory-accessibility-classes-for-lecturers/

COVID-19 and Blindness: Why the New Touchless, Physically-Distant World Sucks for People with Visual Impairment

In this essay, I discuss how an unanticipated consequence of following this tri-part guidance for staying ‘safe’ is the effective demonization of touch, which has led to many unforeseen challenges for more than 12 million people in the U.S. (and over 285 million people worldwide) who are blind or visually impaired (BVI).

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/covid-19-and-blindness-why-the-new-touchless-physically-distant-world-sucks-for-people-with-visual-impairment/

Council of Canadians with Disabilities Response to COVID-19 Funding Falling Through Cracks

June 10, 2020 marked a disappointing day for Canadians with disabilities. Finally, government put forward financial relief for Canadians with disabilities only to have the bill fail on the floor.

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com/council-of-canadians-with-disabilities-response-to-covid-19-funding-falling-through-cracks/

Send Us Your Feedback Very Quickly on Our Draft Brief to the Ontario Government on the Urgent Needs of K-12 Students with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Crisis

We are rushing to prepare and submit a brief to the Ford Government on what it must do now and as schools eventually re-open to meet the urgent needs of students with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. We have assembled a draft brief, which we set out below. We want your feedback and ideas. We need them fast. We want to get this brief submitted to the Government as quickly as we can. We are sorry this is so rushed. Life during COVID-19 feels like an endless blitz for the AODA Alliance!

Read more at
https://aoda.ca/send-us-your-feedback-very-quickly-on-our-draft-brief-to-the-ontario-government-on-the-urgent-needs-of-k-12-students-with-disabilities-during-the-covid-19-crisis/ We therefore recommend that:

#3. The Ministry of Education should immediately issue a policy direction to all school boards, imposing restrictions on when and how a principal may exclude a student from school. including directions that:

Read more at
http://www.accessibilitynews.ca/send-us-your-feedback-very-quickly-on-our-draft-brief-to-the-ontario-government-on-the-urgent-needs-of-k-12-students-with-disabilities-during-the-covid-19-crisis/

Covid-19 Work Flexibility Improves Accessibility for People With Disabilities

More flexibility with hours and working from home will help people with physical and intellectual challenges to be a part of the workforce, disability advocates say.

Read more at
https://aoda.ca/covid-19-work-flexibility-improves-accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities/