Accessibility News Deaf Related Articles

Internet, Social Media Open Doors of Accessibility for Those With DeafBlindness

May 25, 2020 Editor

Originally Posted May 21, 2020
By: NewmarketToday Staff

During a time when we are physically separated from family, friends, and our peers, technology helps to bridge the gap and encourage social connection from afar.

Although checking social media platforms, browsing the internet, and navigating video and audio streaming services are considered normal interactions, they also open doors of accessibility for others.

For Steven, a man with deafblindness, Facebook and email connect him with the outside world. “I communicate online because I like to talk to people” it is faster and easier [for me] to communicate.”

Deafblindness, a combined loss of hearing and vision, impacts access to information, communication, and mobility. Born with Rubella, also known as the German measles, Steven is profoundly deaf and blind in his left eye. He is legally blind in his right.

Read more at
https://www.accessibilitynews.ca/internet-social-media-open-doors-of-accessibility-for-those-with-deafblindness/

Sign Language Interpreters at Media Briefs Should Be Normal: Accessibility advocates

April 6, 2020 Editor

Sign language interpreters are being lauded for communicating critical information from the provincial and federal governments about COVID-19, but a pair of accessibility advocates say their presence at media briefings should be normalized.

Sign-Language Interpreter Takes On Premier Ford’s ‘angry Dad’ Approach as He Pushes for Accessibility

April 2, 2020 Editor

Christopher Desloges, an American sign language (ASL) interpreter, has become a fixture at Mr. Ford’s news conferences, where he translates the Premier’s message live on television for tens of thousands of deaf people in Ontario and across Canada.

Accessibility Essential for Alberta’s COVID-19 Updates: We have no choice but to wait

March 18, 2020 Editor

On Monday, an ASL/English interpreter was present during an Alberta Health COVID-19 update for the first time.

It’s a significant moment for the deaf and hard of hearing community, which had called on the government to provide an interpreter or live captioning during the updates.

Legal Battle Over Captioning Continues

April 8, 2019 Editor

A legal dispute over video captions continues after court rejects requests by MIT and Harvard University to dismiss lawsuits accusing them of discriminating against deaf people.

Siri on the ReSound Linx Quattro Smart Hearing Aid a First for AI voice Control

January 10, 2019 Editor

“Hey Siri, stream iTunes through my hearing aid.” That’s just one of many things you can do with the ReSound Linx Quattro, the first smart hearing aid to use AI to pair with Apple’s Siri assistant.

CRTC Mandates Standards for TTY, IP Relay Accessibility Messaging Services

December 17, 2018 Editor

Individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or deafblind will soon have access to faster, better message relay services

Canada’s telecommunications watchdog has issued a decision mandating standards for message relay services.

Accommodating Workers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

November 20, 2018 Editor

The Employment Standard under the AODA requires employers to accommodate workers with disabilities. Employers can make the workplace accessible for workers who are deaf or hard of hearing if they learn about the kinds of accommodations workers might need.

Here we outline some ways that employers and colleagues can communicate with and accommodate workers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Workers will explain the communication methods that work best for them.

Surrey to Build World’s First Translation System for British Sign Language

October 17, 2018 Editor

The world’s first machine capable of turning British Sign Language (BSL) into written English is set to be built by the University of Surrey as part of a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

BSL is a language in its own right, with its own grammar, and it is very different from English. BSL uses several parts of the body simultaneously to fully express a range phrases, ideas and emotions.

Deaf Canadians ‘At Risk’ in Times of National Emergency

October 15, 2018 Editor

Other countries have on-screen interpreters during news broadcasts

When the next ice storm, wildfire or terror attack happens, Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing will be in greater peril than others because most public notification systems are not accessible to them, experts say.