December 29, 2022 Issue 34 Skip to main content

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ACCESS READY REPORTER TO MERGE WITH ACCESS INFORMATION NEWS ON JANUARY 2ND 2023

Everything you need to know, here.

 

ACCESS READY COVERS A BIG VICTORY FOR FEDERAL 508 ACCESSIBILITY

As you may have seen, the House passed the 2023 omnibus government funding bill, and President Biden signed it as soon as it hit his desk. The Disability community had some major wins: the bill has very positive language in the legislative text regarding federal accessibility issues, mandating that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) update guidance on information and communication technology accessibility under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended within 100 days and that each agency evaluate and report on compliance with Section 508 within 225 days. It also mandates an annual report on Section 508 compliance with a comprehensive reporting on each agency's accessibility efforts. 

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Government Spotlight

 FEDERAL WEB ACCESSIBILITY FOCUS PUTS PRIVATE SECTOR ON NOTICE

Federal agencies, as well as the private sector, are facing pressure due to a growing focus on web accessibility by the U.S. Department of Justice, which recently sought to increase its own online user-friendliness with a makeover of its ADA.gov website. DOJ said it would make the site more “user-centered” by incorporating easier to understand language, among other upgrades. The website itself offers information to employers and employees on the rights of disabled people in the workplace and in public spaces…

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Election Accessibility

DISABILITY RIGHTS SOUTH DAKOTA CONDUCTS ACCESSIBILITY POLLING SITE OBSERVATIONS ON ELECTION DAY

Sponsored by VOTEC

Disability Rights South Dakota (DRSD) is the designated non-profit Protection and Advocacy agency in the state of South Dakota. Among the myriad of federal grant programs administered at DRSD, is the Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program. This grant was established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). On Oct. 29, 2002, President Bush signed HAVA into law to establish, expand and improve access and participation in the election process by individuals with disabilities.

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Current Legal Actions

 DOJ AGREEMENT WITH UC BERKELEY OVER DIGITAL CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY COULD HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON IHES

A new consent decree between the Justice Department and University of California, Berkeley resolving allegations that UC Berkeley’s digital content is not accessible enough may have much broader implications for education institutions with free online content and courses that are not fully ADA compliant — regardless of the platform where the institution’s content exists. The proposed consent decree was filed in late November alongside a complaint setting forth the allegations of discrimination…

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BLIND AND DISABLED VETERANS CAN'T ACCESS VA WEBSITES, REPORT SAYS

Ron Biglin is a 73-year-old blind veteran living in Clarks Summit, Pa., who regularly goes kayaking and fishing, sorts his mail and uses public transportation to get around. But he can’t log on to the Department of Veterans Affairs website portal for his health benefits because the portal’s design isn’t compatible with his screen reader, which converts text to speech. Now, a new report from the Senate Special Committee on Aging is taking VA to task for neglecting accessibility issues on its websites…

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Healthcare Accessibility

 STUDY: SOCIOECONOMICS FACTORS CREATE DISPARITIES IN TELEHEALTH ACCESS

With an unprecedented uptick in mental illnesses amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, telehealth use spiked when in-person care was unavailable. But new research from the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Institute reveals there are disparities in who has access to telehealth services across Massachusetts. The report, commissioned by the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans and Massachusetts Health Quality Partners, highlights the digital divide related to who has access to tech devices, digital literacy, financial means for broadband internet and reliable internet.

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Accessible Technology

 KELLOGG UPDATES PACKAGING, INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY

Kellogg Co. is adding NaviLens technology to the packaging of four cereal varieties in the United States to increase accessibility for blind and low vision consumers. Included in the packaging update are Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Special K Original, Rice Krispies and Crispix. Kellogg began rolling out packaging with NaviLens accessibility features in the United Kingdom in 2022. Initially printed on Special K boxes, the company transitioned all other UK cereal brands to the new packaging throughout the year…

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TOP TECH TIDBITS DECEMBER 22, 2022

Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology.

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