ABOUT:

Access Information News. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information.

On This Page:

⬆︎ 1.) Publication

1.) Description ♿️ Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 26,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week.

Access Information News aggregates (using AI) and curates (using human beings) all of the latest news and trends in access information each week.

We prioritize access information productivity tips, guides, walk-throughs and explainer videos, in addition to covering all of the latest updates in the field of access information each week.

2.) Subscriber Count 🔢️ Over 26,000 readers currently receive the Access Information Newsletter each week.

For proof of our stated subscriber counts, please see the Subscriber Count Screen Shots section.

3.) Key Newsletter Statistics 📊️ Open Rate: 47%. Click Rate: 34%. Ad CTRs: 2-12%.

4.) Publisher 📰️ Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication.

5.) Cost 💸️ Free. The Access Information Newsletter is free to read each week. Sponsorship, advertising and donation opportunities are available to support the ongoing distribution of Access Information News.

6.) Schedule 📅️ Access Information News is released via email and social media every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET.

7.) Review 🔍️ Read the most current issues of Access Information News here.

12.) Definitions 📖️

A.) Access Information: Refers to informational topics that directly affect the lives of people with disabilities. Access Information includes any and all information related to bettering the lives of people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled.

There are several other terms that can provide a more comprehensive view of the technologies used to support individuals with various needs. They are:

B.) Accessibility: The practice of making information, environments, and products usable by people with a wide range of abilities. This includes adapting physical spaces, creating accessible digital content, and providing assistive technologies.

C.) Access Technology: Broadly encompasses technologies that enable access to information and communication systems for a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. It's about making existing systems like computers and the internet more accessible.

D.) Adaptive Technology: A subset of Access Technology, specifically tailored or modified for people with disabilities. It's designed to assist individuals in performing tasks that might otherwise be challenging due to their particular disabilities.

E.) Assistive Technology: This term is often used interchangeably with Adaptive Technology but can have a broader scope. Assistive Technology includes any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. While Adaptive Technology is primarily focused on modifications for disability-specific needs, Assistive Technology can also include tools and devices used by the elderly, those recovering from injuries, or individuals with temporary impairments. Examples include hearing aids, wheelchairs, and voice recognition software. The key aspect of Assistive Technology is its role in enhancing functional capabilities and improving quality of life for individuals facing a variety of challenges.

F.) Universal Design: This concept involves designing products, environments, and systems to be accessible and usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. It's about creating inclusive solutions from the outset, rather than retrofitting or adapting existing products.

G.) Web Accessibility: Refers to the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites by people with disabilities. Key principles include ensuring that websites can be navigated and understood by everyone, regardless of hardware, software, language, location, or ability.

H.) Screen Reader: A software application that converts text displayed on a computer screen into audible speech. This is particularly useful for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

I.) Closed Captioning: Text displayed on a television or video screen to provide additional or interpretive information, primarily used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

J.) Alternative Text: Descriptive text added to an image on a website or document, which can be read by screen readers. This assists individuals who are blind or visually impaired in understanding the content of the images.

K.) Braille: A tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It represents letters and numbers using raised dots, allowing individuals to read through touch.

L.) Sign Language Interpreters: Professionals who facilitate communication between hearing and deaf or hard of hearing individuals through the translation of spoken language to sign language and vice versa.

M.) Text-to-Speech (TTS): A type of assistive technology that reads digital text aloud. It's beneficial for individuals with reading difficulties, visual impairments, or learning disabilities like dyslexia.

13.) History 📜️

November 7, 2022: The Beginning 📅️

After reaching its character limit for international compliance, Top Tech Tidbits spins off its Access Information News section into its own newsletter, sent on a completely different date, in order to give readers time to consume all of the new access information now being provided each week. Press release here. Almost 9.5K readers now receive Access Information News as a separate newsletter every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET.

January 2, 2023 📅️

The Access Ready Reporter Newsletter, formerly published by Access Ready, Inc., merges with the Access Information Newsletter. Press release here. Readership grows from 9.5K readers per week to 10.5K readers per week.

November 7, 2023: 1 Year Later 📅️

Access Information News now serves 24 industry-leading sponsors which fund the ongoing distribution of the publication. Readership grows from 9.5K readers per week to 11K readers per week.

June 1, 2024: 6 Months Later 📅️

Access Information News now serves 24 industry-leading sponsors which fund the ongoing distribution of the publication. Readership grows from 11K readers per week to 18K readers per week.

14.) Trusted 🔰️ Access Information News is trusted by over 26,000 access information professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world.

15.) Compliant 🆗️ The Access Information News subscriber database is managed using the Constant Contact Media Services Platform, ensuring 100% legal compliance worldwide, and providing each of our subscribers with the ability to opt out at any time.

Access Information News recognizes and adheres to the CAN-SPAM Act (U.S.), The CASL Laws (Canada) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations of 2003 (UK).

16.) Mission 🎯️ Our Mission is to provide free, ongoing, high-quality, human-curated educational resources, news and updates to readers seeking current information about accessibility each week.

17.) Funding 💸️ The ongoing distribution of the Access Information Newsletter is made possible by our Sponsors, Supporters, Advertisers, and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Any time the Access Information News Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.

18.) Not-For-Profit 🤝️ The Access Information News Publication is operated as a not-for-profit project by Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced digital marketing services. All of the funds generated by the Access Information News publication, from Sponsors, Supporters and Advertisers, are held in escrow and used only to fund the ongoing distribution of the publication.

19.) News Aggregation 🌐️ Access Information News is a human-curated news aggregation service.

We aggregate high quality access information news articles each week, package them up into an incredibly easy to read format, screen readers and automated assistants included, and send them to you every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET.

Could you read all of the news articles found in the Access Information Newsletter somewhere else?

Yes you could. But that's not likely. Why?

Because locating all of these articles and determining their quality each week would take far more time and resources than most people have.

If your time is precious, but so too is your need to stay current in access information, then a high quality, human-curated news aggregation service like Access Information News can give you the best of both worlds.

At absolutely no cost.

20.) Editorial Direction 🖊️ Our Sponsorship, Support and Advertisement structure allow our Editorial Team to focus on the needs of the reader.

These needs are represented by the more than 26,000 access information professionals, educators and enthusiasts that receive the Access Information Newsletter each week.

We engage with and listen to reader feedback daily and use it to shape future weekly editorial decisions.

In this manner the publication's editorial direction is always dictated by readers.

21.) Human Curated News Selection 🧠️ Each news item submitted for publication to Access Information News is voted on by our Publisher, Aaron Di Blasi, and two other Access Information News Editors.

We use AI tools to aggregate all of the news each week. Each article is then selected for publication by vote from a team of 3 people. Each with decades of experience in their field. These roles include a computer engineer and journalist (Aaron Di Blasi, Publisher), an attorney specializing in technology and access law (John Hanlin, Editor) and an advocate for technological accessibility for the United States government (Jenna Lang, Editor).

This range of combined experience in technology, media, law, social justice, and specifically, access information, is what we use to deliver the high quality, human-curated news that Access Information News readers count on each week.

21.) How And When We Use AI 🤖️ While every article that is published in the Access Information Newsletter is voted on by a minimum of 3 real-life, breathing, human beings, we still use AI in many other ways across the workflow of the publication to increase efficiency and improve the readership experience.

Here at Access Information News we are committed to delivering high-quality, timely, insightful, human-curated news and trends in access information. This commitment is bolstered by our responsible and strategic use of AI technology. Our approach ensures both efficiency and relevance, and aligns with our ethos of providing a premier news aggregation service. Here's how we integrate AI into our workflow.

Content Curation and Efficiency ⚙️

A.) Sifting, Organizing and Categorizing: AI algorithms help us filter through vast amounts of data and news articles, selecting potential content that aligns with our standards and areas of focus.

B.) Summarization: AI tools assist in summarizing key points from sourced articles. This aids our editors in quickly grasping the essence of each piece and its source, thereby facilitating informed (but still human-curated) decisions of inclusion within the newsletter.

C.) Remediation: We utilize AI to adjust and format content, ensuring it's accessible and readable, including compatibility with screen readers and automated assistants.

Ethical Guidelines and AI Transparency 📜️

Adhering to strict ethical standards Access Information News ensures transparency in our use of AI by:

A.) Clear Labeling: Any AI-generated content will be clearly labeled as such. Our primary use of AI is not for content creation but for assisting in the editorial process of news aggregation, categorization, classification and publication.

B.) Human-Centric Approach: All of our editorial decisions are made by human beings. AI aids in processing and preparation, but final selection, or content curation, is always made by a vote from our Publisher and at least two of our Editors, reflecting our commitment to the journalistic integrity and quality of the publications that we cover.

Compliance with Data Privacy Laws ⚖️

Access Information News operates in strict compliance with both US and international data privacy and protection laws. Our adherence to these laws involve:

A.) Data Protection Measures: Implementing robust security protocols to safeguard subscriber data.

B.) Transparency and Control: Maintaining transparency about data usage and providing subscribers with control over their personal information.

C.) Regular Legal Reviews: Continuously updating our practices to align with evolving data privacy regulations.

Human Oversight 👁️

In line with our commitment to quality and transparency we adhere to each of the following:

A.) Editorial Voting By Humans: Each article published in the Access Information Newsletter is approved via an online voting process that includes our Publisher and at least two other Access Information News editors.

B.) AI Assistance: Access Information News is a news aggregation service. AI assists us in providing this service but does not replace the human element critical to our selection process.

C.) Balance: Here at Access Information News we use AI as a tool to enhance our ability to deliver top-notch content in access information. By balancing technological efficiency with human judgment and ethical considerations we ensure that the Access Information Newsletter remains a trusted and valuable resource of information for readers across the globe. Our transparent use of AI, underpinned by legal compliance and ethical practice considerations, reflect our dedication to being the world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information.

23.) Self Description 🧑️ The Access Information News Publication regularly discusses concepts of disability and functional diversity, a collective term for people with a special need, disability, impairment or handicap. All of the people and companies featured in Access Information News have chosen how they wish to be described.

⬆︎ 2.) Subscriber List Metrics

1.) Last Updated 🔄️

These metrics were last updated on .

2.) Measurement 📐️

The metrics provided here reflect only those metrics that we are permitted to record under the CAN-SPAM Act (U.S.), The CASL Laws (Canada) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations of 2003 (UK). These numbers, therefore, will always be lower than their actual values.

3.) Subscriber Count 🔢️ | 26,000 | Number of access information subscribers that currently read the Access Information Newsletter each week.

4.) Open Rate 📬️ | 47% | Average Open Rate per newsletter over the last 12 months. This compares to a 16.22% Average Open Rate for the overall industry over the last 12 months.

5.) Click Through Rate 🔗️ | 34% | Average Click Through Rate per newsletter over the last 12 months. This compares to a 7.17% Average Click Through Rate for the overall industry over the last 12 months.

6.) Advertisement Click Through Rate 🔗️ | 2-12% | Average Advertisement Click Through Rate per newsletter over the last 12 months. This compares to a 1-4% Average Advertisement Click Through Rate for the overall industry over the last 12 months.

7.) Bounce Rate 🏀️ | 2.2% | Average Bounce Rate per newsletter over the last 12 months. This compares to a 7.75% Average Bounce Rate for the overall industry over the last 12 months.

8.) Subscriber Email Address Extensions 📧️

.COM | 37.3% | 6,714 Subscribers

.NET | 18.5% | 3,330 Subscribers

.EDU | 16.2% | 2,916 Subscribers

.GOV | 14.2% | 2,556 Subscribers

.ORG | 10.6% | 1,908 Subscribers

.US | 1.7% | 306 Subscribers

OTHER | 1.5% | 270 Subscribers

9.) Subscriber Geography 🌎️

USA | 42.2% | 7,596 Subscribers

UK | 13.1 | 2,359 Subscribers

Canada | 8.2% | 1,477 Subscribers

Russia | 5.7% | 1,027 Subscribers

India | 5.1 | 919 Subscribers

Finland | 3.9% | 703 Subscribers

Australia | 3.8% | 685 Subscribers

Brazil | 3.7% | 667 Subscribers

Other | 3.6% | 649 Subscribers

France | 3.1% | 559 Subscribers

Argentina | 2.7% | 487 Subscribers

Paraguay | 1.7% | 307 Subscribers

Philippines | 1.6% | 289 Subscribers

New Zealand | 1.5% | 264 Subscribers

⬆︎ 3.) Subscriber Count Screen Shots

To provide complete transparency regarding our subscriber counts, we offer monthly screenshots directly from our Constant Contact control panel.

This allows readers, sponsors, supporters, and advertisers alike to review the growth (or decline) of the Access Information News mailing list in real time.

For more information about subscriber counts, read: Become a Sponsor Today And Reach A Bazillion Subscribers A Week! Sound Familiar? Real Talk About Sponsorships and Subscriber Counts | Aaron Di Blasi | AT-Newswire.com.

August 26, 2024 Subscriber Count Screen Shot

July 22, 2024 Subscriber Count Screen Shot

June 24, 2024 Subscriber Count Screen Shot

May 27, 2024 Subscriber Count Screen Shot

April 29, 2024 Subscriber Count Screen Shot

⬆︎ 4.) The Access Information News News Team

1.) Distribution: Sponsors, Supporters, Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Distribution Since: 2004

As of November 7, 2022 the distribution of Access Information News is made possible by our Sponsors, our Supporters, our Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced marketing administration and consultation services.

Any time the Access Information News Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.

Please help us to support the ongoing distribution of this publication. Learn more about the benefits of Sponsorship today.

2.) Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi

Publisher Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)

In addition to serving as Publisher for Access Information News Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters, PR-Director for the AT-Newswire Press Release News Distribution Service, and President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Access Information News on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP

Email: publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
Toll Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

Publisher (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week's News in Artificial Intelligence

PR Director (2024-Present)
AT-Newswire 🌐
Access Technology's Digital Newswire

Publisher (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information

Publisher (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology

Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.

Certified:

Digital Marketing Associate
Meta Certified (2022 - Present)

Social Marketing Professional
Hootsuite Certified (2020 - Present)

Email Marketing Professional
Constant Contact Certified (2019 - Present)

Specializing in:

Digital Strategy and Content Marketing
Social Media Advertising
Online Fundraising
ADA, WCAG and Section 508 Compliance

3.) Editor: John Hanlin

Editor Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News John also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and visually impaired persons.

John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

John Hanlin, Esq.

Editor (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week's News in Artificial Intelligence

Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information

Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology

Board of Trustees (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.

4.) Editor: Jenna Lang

Editor Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and runs her own advocacy foundation.

Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Jenna's son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.

Jenna Lang, PMP

Editor (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week's News in Artificial Intelligence

Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information

Project Management Professional (2022 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.

Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology

5.) Editor: David Woodbridge

Editor Since: February 6, 2023

Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia

Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News David also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits publication and is also the National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor for Vision Australia where he has worked since 1990. Over this time he has assisted people who are blind or vision impaired in their home, education, and work settings to take advantage of the benefits of using assistive and main stream technology.

In the last seventeen years, he has also been involved with evaluating technology for use by people who are blind or vision impaired covering both low and high tech equipment (including Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and Apple). David is also one of the key spokespersons for Vision Australia relating to technology.

He has been an Apple Ambassador for Apple Australia since 2009 with a group of other Ambassadors / Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE)'s covering the range of Apple's Accessibility solutions throughout Australia.

David produces a range of podcasts (since 2011) covering Apple and other technologies which are distributed on his own podcast (http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com). In addition, he also has a regular Talking Tech program (since 2013) which can be heard every Tuesday at 4:30 Eastern Summer Time on Vision Australia Radio Melbourne (available online) or via https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio

David also runs a weekly Tech Monday where people can chat about assistive and main stream technology, share information, and any tips and tricks.

David lost his sight when he was 8 years old and had to learn Braille. Since then, he completed high school, went to Sydney University receiving a Social Work degree, spent 4 years drug and alcohol counselling, and then moved into his current job.

As a person who is blind, David believes that as a user of the technology that he recommends to others, that he is well situated to look at the strengths and shortcomings of the assistive technology that he comes across in both his professional and personal life, in particular, mainstream technology that is accessible.

In addition to his weekly contributions to Access Information News and Access Information News, David's regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions.

David Woodbridge

X (Formerly Twitter): @dwoodbridge
Mastodon: woody@dragonscave.space
iSee Podcast: https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com
Vision Australia Radio Talking Tech: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio

Editor (2023-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology

Editor (2023-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information

National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor
(1990 - Present)
Vision Australia 🌐
Live the life you choose. We're here to support all Australians who are blind or have low vision.

6.) Editor: Vicki Walton

Editor Since: January 9, 2024

Location: Benton City, WA

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)

IIn addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Vicki also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits publication and works as a Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Vicki Walton

Editor (2024-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information

Editor (2024-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology

Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges 🌐
Better Jobs, Brighter Futures, a Stronger Washington

Information provided by Access Information News, the world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information. Learn more today at: https://accessinformationnews.com.