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Access Information News. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information. Six square boxes of the same size stacked two over four alternate colors between light and dark blue. Inside each box is an illustration of a person with a disability using access information to improve their life.

Access Information News for Monday, March 20, 2023 - Volume 902

The Week's News in Access Information
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication
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1) Top 5 Most Clicked Access Information News Articles From Last Week

A.) Accessibility Issues That Must Not Be Named | Paul Martz | AppleVis (5.2% of all clicks.)
It's the accessibility issues without names that keep me up at night. Problems that we never discuss because the English language has no words for them. They are the Lord Voldemort of accessibility issues. They are, "Issues That Must Not Be Named:"
https://www.applevis.com/blog/accessibility-issues-must-not-be-named

B.) Accessibility and AI: Microsoft Details Its Plans for a More Inclusive Future | PC Magazine (4.6% of all clicks.)
At Microsoft's annual Ability Summit, we learned how artificial intelligence is powering some of the most exciting developments in inclusive and accessible design:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/accessibility-and-ai-microsoft-details-its-plans-for-a-more-inclusive-future

C.) Wearable Tinnitus Device by Neosensory Reduces Tinnitus Severity (4.3% of all clicks.)
Neosensory, a technology company designing solutions for hearing impairments, has published new results in their recent scientific study of Duo, their therapeutic intervention for tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The group of participants who used Neosensory's Duo solution daily for eight weeks reported clinically significant reduction in their tinnitus severity. The paper has just been published in the International Tinnitus Journal: Bimodal stimulation for the reduction of tinnitus using vibration on the skin:
https://hearingreview.com/hearing-loss/tinnitus/wearable-tinnitus-device-by-neosensory-reduces-tinnitus-severity

D.) I'm A Badass Blind Babe — Walking Down The Street With My Cane Is Powerful (4.1% of all clicks.)
Valentin Hauy is a voluntary association dedicated to the support of visually impaired people in France. Created in 1889, it deploys a large number of actions throughout the country to allow the visually impaired easier access to education, to the world of work, but also to culture. In 2022, the association organized the Tactile Tour, a new and interactive temporary exhibition. The latter consists in presenting 12 relief reproductions of world-famous works such as Leonardo da Vinci's Self-portrait and Vitruvian Man or Raphael's The Marriage of the Virgin. The objective is simple: to discover art through touch. Blind and visually impaired people have the opportunity to feel the work by coming into contact with it. The exhibition is of course accessible to everyone, and sighted people can extend the experience by participating in the visit blindfolded. Headsets are available to provide a detailed description of the works that the visitor touches:
https://nypost.com/2023/03/10/im-a-badass-blind-babe-walking-with-my-cane-is-powerful/

E.) 5 Things I Wish Were Accessible — But Normally Aren't | Fashioneyesta AKA Emily Davis (3.8% of all clicks.)
These are some of the things that I wish were accessible as a visually impaired person that normally aren't:
https://fashioneyesta.com/5-things-i-wish-were-accessible-but-normally-arent/

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3) Mindset Matters: How The Tribe Of Accessibility Is Fundamental To Scaling The Disability Economy | Forbes

Accessibility is being embraced across the business landscape from corporate stalwarts such as Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, and Meta to a host of new players in the space recognizing not only a greater need for an accessible world but acknowledging the significance of its growing economic value. While there is progress, there is an element here that needs greater amplification, the role of the accessibility professional. It is these professionals that are at the nexus in not only defining this technological revolution but becoming a real driver for transformation. The Accessibility professional is not just a change agent but in fact, part of a larger tribe that sees the world through a lens of inclusivity and espouses a new cultural norm that is essential in defining the mindset of the digital economy of the here-and-now and the future of the industry:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathankaufman/2023/03/17/mindset-matters-how-the-tribe-of-accessibility-is-fundamental-to-scaling-the-disability-economy/?sh=5f7c24a7699e

4) The Unpredictable Abilities Emerging From Large AI Models | Quanta Magazine

Publisher (Di Blasi): For those of you interested in the inner workings, possible future applications, and/or ramifications of Artificial General Intelligence, I encourage you to review this article. It discusses emergence. Emergence refers to abilities displayed by an artificial intelligence that are considered to be greater than the sum of the input used to train them. In other words, new and emergent abilities that are, in most academic opinion, far beyond the capacity of the inputs that it was trained upon. The article gives you examples of emergence and even discusses how you can use chain-of-thought prompts to elicit emergent behaviors in current models yourself.
Quanta Magazine: What movie do these emojis describe? (girl face emoji followed by three different fish emoji.) That prompt was one of 204 tasks chosen last year to test the ability of various large language models (LLMs) — the computational engines behind AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. The simplest LLMs produced surreal responses. "The movie is a movie about a man who is a man who is a man," one began. Medium-complexity models came closer, guessing The Emoji Movie. But the most complex model nailed it in one guess: Finding Nemo:
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-unpredictable-abilities-emerging-from-large-ai-models-20230316/?mc_cid=5b30527cd0&mc_eid=f1a80c1f27

5) Game With Your Eyes. Code With Your Voice. Inside The New Accessibility Revolution

Forking an on-screen keyboard project to play Minecraft, customizing keyboard layouts for programming, using ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot for coding and communication, and more: Accessibility is forging new frontiers:
https://github.com/readme/featured/open-source-accessibility?mc_cid=fc82e97602&mc_eid=25075ce883

6) How to Market Your Accessibility Efforts (& Why You Should) | Amanda Dodge | Accessibility.com

Publisher (Di Blasi): As one who has owned and operated a digital marketing agency that has specialized in SEO and accessibility since 2004, I can tell you with full confidence that there has never been a better time to market your accessibility efforts. If you need help, beyond these tips, feel free to reach out to me ✉. Even if it's just for advice. We've been in digital marketing for a very long time, and can often pinpoint unique online marketing opportunities for your specific business or organization.
Accessibility.com: The vast majority of websites are inaccessible. According to DDIY, 97.4% of websites don't offer full accessibility as of 2022. This is a shockingly high amount considering one in four Americans has some form of disability, which means most people either have a disability or know someone who does. And yet, many companies treat accessibility like an optional feature for a niche group of customers. If you have put a significant amount of effort into making your online experience accessible, congratulations. You are part of a tiny percentage of companies that prioritize web usability for customers with disabilities. It's time to shout your efforts from the rooftops and let your users know about these features. Here are a few ways to market your accessibility efforts:
https://www.accessibility.com/blog/how-to-market-your-accessibility-efforts-why-you-should

7) AI's Next Big Takeover: Audiobooks | CNET

Stomachs gurgle. The sound of muscles in the digestive system moving. The human body doing its thing. Sometimes, if there's a mic nearby, those burbles and gurgles get picked up. AI audiobook narrators don't have to worry about strange gastrointestinal noises, but Leah Allers and engineer Craig Hinkle aren't bots. They're human beings, recording for Nashville Audiobook Productions in mid-January, fretting about gurgles, discussing where to put the emphasis on the word "increase," and tending to the detailed work of giving a "real" voice to a book about how couples communicate:
https://www.cnet.com/tech/features/will-your-next-audiobook-be-read-by-an-ai/#ftag=CAD590a51e

8) How eBay Made Its New Accessibility Tool — And Made It Available to All

Several eBay teams worked together to create a plug-in that makes it easy to include accessibility in a design right from the start:
https://tech.ebayinc.com/engineering/how-ebay-made-its-new-accessibility-tool-and-made-it-available-to-all/

9) Email Accessibility: A Complete Guide for Marketers, Designers, and Developers

Publisher (Di Blasi): This may go without saying for the Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News publications, but email accessibility is incredibly important, sometimes even more important than web accessibility, and often a serious challenge for many other publications. Simply because the rules for creating accessible emails are wholly different from the rules for creating accessible web pages. Same base languages, sure, but wildly different rules of implementation due to the stark differences between the many email clients out there. Here at Mind Vault we have been creating accessible email newsletters for a very long time. More than 20 years. And one of the partners that has helped us to achieve that success is Email on Acid. We have found them to be the absolute all-stars of everything excellent about email newsletter accessibility.
Email on Acid: Almost everyone uses email every day. That might sound like an exaggeration, but it's not far from the truth. We look to our inboxes for loads of information, and some of it is quite important. That's the biggest reason why email accessibility matters. If brands fail to think about email accessibility, a significant percentage of their subscribers could be left in the dark. Not only does an inaccessible email marginalize some of your contacts and customers, but it's also going to have a negative impact on email performance, brand reputation, and the overall business. The reason is simple: If people have trouble viewing, reading, clicking on, or understanding your email campaigns, they won't take the actions you expect. Of course, the real reason to focus on accessibility in email marketing is because it's the right thing to do. So, let's explore this important topic more. Our complete guide will cover email accessibility best practices and how to design and develop campaigns for every subscriber on your list:
https://www.emailonacid.com/blog/article/email-development/email-accessibilty-in-2017/

10) An AI Told Me I Had Cancer | Wired

Why was an AI looking through my medical records and how did it work? I decided to find out:
https://www.wired.com/story/artificial-intelligence-cancer-detection/

11) Ethical Accessibility | Kelly Ford | The Idea Place

The age-old debate about the glass being half empty or half full is one I've had many times when discussing accessibility in both my personal and professional lives. For me it is true that technology has allowed me to do things that as a child I never thought would be possible. It is also true that technology, and the lack of accessibility at times, has cost me in multiple ways:
https://theideaplace.net/ethical-accessibility/

12) Amazon is Ending Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions — The Final Death of Newspapers?

Last week Amazon announced that they will be shutting down Kindle for Periodicals and Kindle Newsstand. This means starting in September 2023, you will no longer be able to subscribe to digital versions of newspapers and magazines. Amazon is reportedly pushing publishers to make their newspapers and magazines free through Amazon Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited:
https://cordcuttersnews.com/amazon-is-ending-newspaper-magazine-subscriptions-the-final-death-of-newspapers/

13) Accessible Usability Scale (Aus) Analysis Of Desktop Screen Readers | Fable

User research results from over 1,000 AUS scores and recommendations for screen reader research engagements:
https://makeitfable.com/article/analysis-desktop-screen-readers-using-the-accessible-usability-scale-aus/

14) Accessibility Features Of Uber Ride Sharing App For Riders With Disabilities | Accessibility.com

Ridesharing services like Uber have made transportation more accessible and more convenient for people with disabilities. It's now possible for people with disabilities to go wherever they want to, whenever they want to — at the touch of a button. In this short guide, let us take a look at the accessibility features available in the Uber ridesharing app:
https://www.accessibility.com/blog/accessibility-features-of-uber-ridesharing-app-for-riders-with-disabilities

15) Advice For Meeting Someone Who Is Blind | Learning A11y

The first few times I met someone who is blind, I have to admit I saw the disability before I saw the person. I just wasn't prepared for meeting someone different than me, and I didn't know what way to act. Later I learned that some tendencies, while natural and good-intentioned, also are indicative that I'm not seeing the person for the capable and independent person they truly are. I came across some helpful tips about this, and thought I'd share them in this compiled list. As someone who used to see the disability before seeing the person, I wish I had read a guide like this before I met someone who is blind:
https://learninga11y.com/meeting-someone-who-is-blind/

16) How to Make QR Codes More Accessible to People with Disabilities? | Accessibility.com

Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned with smartphones and other digital devices. They can store a wide range of data, from website URLs to photos and videos. They are commonly used in advertising and marketing campaigns, to send and receive payment-related information, to authenticate online accounts and for several other purposes. Data shows that in 2021, more than 75 million people in the US scanned at least one QR code using their smartphone. Due to their wide range of applications, it's crucial to make QR codes more accessible so that people with disabilities can use them without any difficulties:
https://www.accessibility.com/blog/making-qr-codes-more-accessible-and-improving-business-accessibility

17) Axe Awards at Axe-Con 2023

Axe-con is about building accessible experiences, the mission of the conference is not only focused on bringing together the accessibility community and providing free content but to highlight the organizations that are leaders in the field of accessibility. This year marks the third annual axe awards, named after a well-known Deque open-source project called axe-core. We are proud to announce this year's winners of the axe awards below so they are recognized for their outstanding work in accessibility and so members of the accessibility community can turn to them for advice when building their accessibility efforts. Please join us in celebrating their efforts:
https://www.deque.com/blog/axe-awards-at-axe-con-2023/

18) Integrating Movement Into Tech For Visual Impairment | Christine Ro | Forbes

Here, a team of psychologists and engineers works to create assistive devices for people with visual impairments. They use a bevy of tools to do this, from relatively simple buzzers and sensors to a more complex moving platform whose seat was taken from a race car. This is a (surprisingly quick) rotating chair on a track that is used to assess the body's vestibular system (which is responsible for the sense of balance and spatial orientation). A particularly striking tool is a metal case that unsnaps to reveal a variety of white rubber hands. Research volunteers who see it compare it to the TV series Wednesday, laughs psychologist Carolina Tammurello, referring to the latest Addams Family adaptation, which features the sentient hand known as Thing:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinero/2023/03/16/integrating-movement-into-tech-for-visual-impairment/?sh=6375fce555de

19) Deque Announces Axe Developer Hub (Beta): The Future Of Automated Accessibility Testing

Deque has announced plans for a new revolutionary accessibility testing platform. This new technology will automatically gather meaningful accessibility testing information and deliver detailed and actionable development-centric insights. The watcher API and axe Developer Hub reporting platform will be available to beta testers shortly. Deque's Chief Technology Officer, Dylan Barrell, explains: "For years dev teams have struggled with accessibility testing tools that are tough to implement and maintain. Many tools miss web page changes or changes in state — creating additional work and risk:"
https://www.deque.com/blog/deque-announces-axe-developer-hub-beta/

20) Innovative Brands Making A Difference For The Disabled | BeautyMatter

Many have disputed the beauty industry's pitfalls in catering to the disabled consumer. In 2021, Vogue suggested that beauty's weak spot was providing for those with disabilities, and recently, Dazed questioned if the wellness sector was inherently ableist. With over one billion people worldwide living with some form of disability, it is essential that the industry listens to these conversations and adapts to ensure consumer inclusion. Recent innovations in the sector have indicated a more optimistic future, including L'Oreal's HAPTA device for those with mobility issues and ELC's Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant for the visually impaired. Several smaller companies also provide cosmetics and products with disabled consumers in mind. To highlight the brands pioneering stronger levels of inclusion, BeautyMatter homes in on four brands making a difference:
https://beautymatter.com/articles/brands-making-a-difference-for-the-disabled

21) Amazon And Vocala Transform Blind Veterans Centre Into Voice-Controlled 'Smart Centre'

The 'smart centre' for blind veterans in Llandudno, Wales, is the first use case of Alexa Smart Properties in the region:
https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/devices/amazon-and-vocala-transform-blind-veterans-centre-into-voice-controlled-smart-centre

22) Five Tips For Focus Groups With People Who Are Blind Or Have Low Vision | Elana Berton | Vision Australia

When I started working in the Digital Access team at Vision Australia I had run many user interviews and focus groups, but never with a single person who was blind or had low vision. I was extremely nervous for my first session, and thoughts were rattling inside my head like, "what if I say something stupid? I don't want to offend anyone” and "I can't make any dumb assumptions". But in the end, other than rushing through the whole thing, I really enjoyed it! As a User Experience Researcher, the opportunity to get a completely different perspective on things and help make a real impact on someone's life was so motivating. I want to give anyone reading this the confidence to have a go at making their focus groups more inclusive. So here are 5 learnings for you to add to your tool box:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/business-consulting/digital-access/blog/five-tips-for-running-focus-groups

23) Game-Changers: How The Video-Game Industry Must Step It Up For Blind Players | Montreal Gazette

The bridges between the visually impaired and sighted video-gaming communities are ill-designed and sometimes non-existent:
https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/blind-visually-impaired-video-games-ubisoft-last-of-us-part-ii

24) Recording: The Power of an Accessible Website: Practical Tips for Elevating Your E-Commerce Business | 3PlayMedia

In this webinar Bet Hannon covered some of the benefits of website accessibility and steps to inclusion and compliance. Bet Hannon is a longtime digital agency owner and the founder and CEO of AccessiCart, a services agency that focuses on helping e-commerce merchants improve the accessibility of their websites. Bet offered guidance for enhancing e-commerce businesses and increasing potential audiences by 25% through website accessibility, though most of the information that was presented can be applied to any website:
https://www.3playmedia.com/resources/recorded-webinars/wbnr-02-16-2023-accessible-website/

25) Wheel The World Grabs $6M To Offer Guaranteed Accessibility, Price Match For Hotel Rooms

Wheel the World wants to open the world up to people with disabilities and has made it its mission since 2018 to provide travel accommodations and experiences that fit their needs, both in the United States and worldwide. On March 9, 2023 the company announced two new booking tool features, including guaranteed accessibility for hotel rooms booked from its website and a price match offer:
https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/09/wheel-the-world-travel-disabilities/

26) Feds Investigating School That Often Had Students With Disabilities Arrested | Disability Scoop

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into a tiny Illinois school district for students with disabilities to determine whether children enrolled there have been denied an appropriate education because of the "“"practice of referring students to law enforcement for misbehaviors:"
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/03/14/feds-investigating-school-often-students-disabilities-arrested/30288/

27) UX Researchers At Ally Bank And Overdrive On Why They Shifted From Accessibility Guidelines To Usability For All | Fable

Experts with Fable Recap: Best practices for user research with assistive technology users:
https://makeitfable.com/article/ally-overdrive-why-shift-from-guidelines-to-usability/

28) Singapore Analysis: Regulations Allow F&B Joints To Let In Guide Dogs For The Visually Impaired, But Why Do Some Still Have Reservations?

After queuing for some time at a fast food restaurant with a group of friends one day, Mr Chia Hong Sen found himself denied service at the counter. The reason: He was accompanied by a guide dog, which helps people with visual impairment like him get around independently. Despite Mr Chia and his friends explaining that such dogs are not prohibited from entering food establishments under the law, and other customers stepping in to plead on their behalf, the employees maintained that "it's a dog, and dogs are pets:"
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/regulations-guide-dogs-visually-impaired-dining-restaurant-2127876

29) New App Helps Visually Impaired With Grocery Shopping

A Flushing, Michigan native is helping the Kellogg Company change the way that millions of Americans who are blind or have low vision — perform daily tasks as simple as shopping for cereal. With an effort to make packaging more accessible to those who view the world differently Kellogg has partnered with NaviLens Technology to change the world — one box of cereal at a time. Kellogg is introducing a personal cereal shopper for the visually impaired through the NaviLens app with an effort to create a new way of grocery shopping for consumers like flushing native, Beth Foor — a Kellogg employee who helped create this project because she too suffers from loss of vision:
https://www.abc12.com/news/new-app-helps-visually-impaired-with-grocery-shopping/article_40887cc8-c1e1-11ed-9b80-5b936c96eb22.html

30) Braille and Language Development: What Teachers Should Know | Education Week

The overwhelming majority of vision-impaired children attend regular public schools, rather than specialty schools for the blind, and few have teachers who are trained to understand differences between tactile and visual language, experts say. That can be problematic because understanding these different language modes can be critical for teachers to boost literacy skills for their visually impaired students, according to researchers at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference here earlier this month:
https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/braille-and-language-development-what-teachers-should-know/2023/03

31) The American Council of the Blind and Supporters Rally to Demand Accessible and Inclusive Currency

On March 10, 2023, Harriet Tubman Day, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and supporters rallied in front of the White House and marched to the U.S. Treasury to highlight the ongoing fight for accessible and inclusive currency for all:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-american-council-of-the-blind-and-supporters-rally-to-demand-accessible-and-inclusive-currency-301771930.html

32) Microsoft Partners With Kansas School For The Blind In New Computer Science Program

Kansas State School for the Blind is teaming up with Microsoft to teach students who identify as blind or low vision how to explore new areas of computer science:
https://www.kake.com/story/48549276/microsoft-partners-with-kansas-school-for-the-blind-in-new-computer-science-program

33) Computers for the Blind | Paths To Literacy

Computers for the Blind is determined to bridge the digital divide for the community of the blind and visually impaired in the US by providing affordable, accessible refurbished computers and training:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/computers-for-the-blind/

34) Disney Parks are More Accessible Thanks to Cast Member Advocate

A Disney Parks Cast Member has helped the Walt Disney Company ensure it is accessible for Guests, particularly in how they utilize its technological features:
https://www.disneydining.com/disney-parks-accessible-cast-member-joanna-collins-sj1/

35) Adapting a Graphic Design Project for a Braille Student | Paths to Literacy

Tips to adapt a three-dimensional graphic design project for a student with a visual impairment in an inclusive art class:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/adapting-graphic-design-project-braille-student/

36) Thousands With Learning Disabilities Trapped In Hospital, Some For Years

Thousands of people with learning disabilities are stuck in long-stay hospitals because of a lack of psychological support and overly complicated treatment systems, according to research. The report from the University of Birmingham and rights-based organization Changing Our Lives has been released in conjunction with an exhibition from the subversive street artist Foka Wolf titled, "Why are we stuck in hospital?"
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/14/thousands-learning-disabilities-trapped-long-stay-hospitals

37) How The Oscars Embraced Accessibility And Inclusion With Asl Interpreters And More (Guest Column)

One year after the landmark success for Best Picture winner "CODA" at the Academy Awards, the 2023 Oscars presented the latest opportunity for Hollywood to show the world where it stands on inclusion and diversity. On Oscars night, through a combination of memorable moments and inclusive components of the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences demonstrated its growing commitment to embracing inclusion and accessibility for all:
https://variety.com/2023/awards/opinion/oscars-asl-interpreters-accessibility-1235554445/

38) UK Disability Work Tests To Be Scrapped In Welfare Shake-Up

Disability fit-for-work tests will be abolished under reforms billed as the "biggest change to our welfare system in a decade" in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Budget:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64967329

39) Special Ed Teacher Fired After Complaining About Understaffing, Lawsuit Says | Disability Scoop

A special education teacher in Burlington County has filed a lawsuit claiming she lost her job after repeatedly complaining to school district officials about understaffing in the classroom. Bryanna Mostak, of Hamilton, claims in court papers that understaffing and a hostile work environment in the Bordentown Regional School District forced her to take medical leave in December 2021 due to stress and anxiety. She was terminated two months later, according to the suit. Trudy Atkins, the district's superintendent, did not respond to a request for comment on the suit:
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/03/15/special-ed-teacher-fired-complaining-understaffing-lawsuit/30289/


➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and Events

Submit your access information related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-event or locate "Webinar / Training Course Submission Form" within the main menu of the Access Information News website.


March 28, 2023 | VPAT ® 101: Introduction to the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

2PM PT, 3PM MT, 4PM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenter: Brian Elton, Practice Manager, Training. A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a great way to document your product's accessibility, but many companies are unaware of their existence and how to use them. Join Brian Elton, Practice Manager, Training from TPGi for answers to questions such as: What information is contained in a VPAT? Is a VPAT just for websites? Is every organization required to have one? How can a company secure a VPAT? Is it better to create it in-house or get a third party involved? TPGi's webinar will answer those questions and more, and explain how your organization can benefit from a VPAT. Register for the webinar:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-march-28-at-12pm-et-vpat-101-introduction-to-the-voluntary-product-accessibility-template/

March 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

March 28, 2023 | Beyond the Alt Tag: Accessible Name | Great Lakes ADA Center

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Continuing Education Recognition Available. The reasoning, best practices, and available technology for creating accessible images and text alternatives has evolved over the last several years. Expert web developers are building upon the foundation of text alternative techniques such as "alt tags" to newer concepts such as "Accessible Name" and "Accessible Description" for HTML. This approach provides better accessibility. During this webinar, Access Board staff will describe how they employ these updated concepts when developing the Guides to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards. Participants will understand the reason for these changes and will gain practical strategies for adding “Accessible Name” to their vocabulary and tool kits. Target Audience: Open to all, but of noted interest for experienced web developers. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. This webinar will include video remote interpreting (VRI) and real-time captioning:
https://www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/session/?id=111045

March 28, 2023 | Webinar: AT in the Transition Process | Where It's AT

3PM PT, 4PM MT, 5PM CT, 6PM ET, 10PM GMT
Register for our virtual Webinar on AT in the Transition Process, delivered by our Executive Director, Lori Berrong, in partnership with the Maryland School for the Blind! Learn about Assistive Technology solutions that can aid in the process of transitioning out of high school and into whatever lies beyond, be it higher education, employment, and/or community living:
http://www.equipmentlink.org/blog/?p=5367

March 28, 2023 | Accessibility Boutique: The Accessibility of Remote Access | Where It's AT

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT
Do you need to use remote access at work? Many professions require remotely engaging with others' computers, and vice versa. Some remote access clients are partially accessible, only working with one screen reader, and the rest are not useable by the blind. Partially accessible clients require that both participants run the same screen-reader. Pneuma Solutions — a third party alternative — created Scribe for Meetings, an accessible means of remote desktop access. Remote Incident Manager (RIM) is the most accessible remote access tool available. Attend this boutique to dig into all of the options. If you use a screen reader and find yourself needing to train your customers remotely, or if you would find it convenient to connect to a friend or family member's computer at a distance:
https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg

March 29, 2023 | How to Design and Test for Accessible Learning Modules (Digital Accessibility Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Various eLearning course authoring platforms help content authors quickly create online courses to deliver on desktop and mobile devices. Many platforms allow course creation that supports the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The platforms provide tools to address fundamental accessibility issues, such as implementing accessible course controls, accessible videos (including support for both captions and transcripts), keyboard support, and the option to incorporate accessible quizzes within a course module. However, authors must correctly implement the accessibility features and be aware of the fundamental accessibility limitations in each platform they need to resolve to meet the requirements. Join Michael Parker to learn how to design and test for accessible learning modules. Learning Outcomes: Understand the accessibility limitations of your platform, such as Storyline, RISE 360, etc. Learn techniques to make many common elements accessible. Learn about common mistakes to avoid when authoring content in your learning module platform. Learn about accessibility testing strategies to ensure the content you produce is accessible. | Meeting ID: 875 9093 7816 | Passcode: 136374 | One tap mobile: +16699009128,,87590937816#,,,,*136374# US (San Jose) | Dial by your location: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) | Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87590937816?pwd=ajJGZy9XSFR0U2NTOGdsRkdRY3pnZz09#success

April 4, 2023 | Online Graduate Programs in Special Education Webinar | Ball State University

4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT
Register below to attend a webinar about Ball State's online graduate special education programs: Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism. Master's in Special Education. Graduate Certificate in Autism. Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis:
https://admissions.bsu.edu/register/?id=56e048a3-0e21-46ae-85fd-5e66bf62da88&utm_source=Partner_DisScoop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OSL_DisScoop&utm_term=March_23&utm_content=RegToday

April 5, 2023 | Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 7: Music | APH

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
Let's discover together how to make music with these famous bricks! Come and share your creative ideas:
https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/

April 8, 2023 | How To Upgrade To Windows 11 | Technology User Group | Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD)

7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT
This operating system has been around for a while, and people champion its security strengths and applications. Should you upgrade, and what is that process? All events are currently being held via teleconference until further notice. No programs will be held in person. Please dial (319) 527-4994 ☎ at 10:00 AM ET. For more information about the Technology User Group or to recommend a topic / technology for discussion, please contact: Jerry Price at (410) 230-2446 ☎ or via email jerry.price1@maryland.gov

April 19, 2023 | 2023 Helen Keller Achievement Awards | American Foundation for the Blind

http://bit.ly/3YsScrX

April 20, 2023 | Book Talk: Digital Copyright | Internet Archive and Author / Professor Jessica Litman

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Join Internet Archive's founder Brewster Kahle for a virtual book talk with author & professor of law Jessica Litman. In Digital Copyright, law professor Jessica Litman questions whether copyright laws crafted by lawyers and their lobbyists really make sense for the vast majority of us. Should every interaction between ordinary consumers and copyright-protected works be restricted by law? Is it practical to enforce such laws, or expect consumers to obey them? What are the effects of such laws on the exchange of information in a free society? Professor Jessica Litman, the John F. Nickoll Professor of Law, is the author of Digital Copyright and the co-author, with Jane Ginsburg and Mary Lou Kevlin, of the casebook Trademarks and Unfair Competition Law: Cases and Materials. Brewster Kahle, founder and digital librarian of the Internet Archive, has been working to provide universal access to all knowledge for more than 25 years. Register now for the free, virtual discussion:
http://blog.archive.org/2023/03/16/book-talk-digital-copyright/

April 25, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

May 3, 2023 | Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 8: STEM | APH

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
Have you ever thought of doing science, computing, or technology with LEGO Braille Bricks? Expert guests will join us for an amazing session:
https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/

May 9, 2023 through May 12, 2023 | John Slatin AccessU 2023 | Knowbility

Join us virtually or in Austin, TX. John Slatin AccessU is an annual conference where tech professionals, content creators, policymakers, and advocates come together for deep learning in accessible digital design:
https://knowbility.org/programs/john-slatin-accessu-2023

May 13, 2023 | Travel Tools and Apps | Technology User Group | Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD)

7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT
Whether you are traveling to another city, state or country, we will look at tools and resources that will help you get the most assistance for your venture. All events are currently being held via teleconference until further notice. No programs will be held in person. Please dial (319) 527-4994 ☎ at 10:00 AM ET. For more information about the Technology User Group or to recommend a topic / technology for discussion, please contact: Jerry Price at (410) 230-2446 ☎ or via email jerry.price1@maryland.gov

May 16, 2023 through May 18, 2023 | Virtua11y Web Accessibility Conference 2023 | Nomensa

Nomensa's free, virtual web accessibility and digital inclusion conference:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtua11y-web-accessibility-conference-2023-tickets-505953880677

May 18, 2023 | Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Help us celebrate the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments:
https://accessibility.day/

June 2, 2023 | ATHEN Sixth Annual Accessibility Summer Camp 2023

6AM PT, 7AM MT, 8AM CT, 9AM ET, 1PM GMT
We would love for you to share your accessibility knowledge during our sixth annual Accessibility Summer Camp 2023! As in former years, this virtual conference is FREE for all attendees. This year's ASC event will take place on Friday, June 2, 2023, from 8:00-4:00 CST. As a conference participant you will be able to attend sessions and engage in valuable networking with like-minded professionals. We are soliciting presentations from all experience levels and backgrounds, so please visit the ASC Conference Home Page for more information and to submit a proposal. The session proposal deadline is Friday, February 17th, 2023. What is Accessibility Summer Camp (ASC)? The Accessibility Summer Camp is a FREE annual conference with the goal of connecting professionals and educators with best practices in accessibility and Universal Design. Over the past few years, the ASC conference has grown to become one of the most popular accessibility conferences in the country. Our mission is to provide accessibility professional development that empowers attendees to create high quality, accessible learning environments while removing barriers for all individuals who have a desire to learn:
https://www.accessibilityict.org/

May 23, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

June 7, 2023 | Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 9: Orientation & Mobility | APH

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
LEGO bricks to build plans, visualize routes, it's not new! But with LEGO Braille Bricks you can also create labels, add letters, words... Then it becomes really great:
https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/

June 27, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

July 25, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

August 22, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

September 21, 2023 | Inclusive Design 24

Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analogue to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between:
https://inclusivedesign24.org/2023/

September 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

October 24, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

November 6, 2023 through November 10, 2023 | Accessing Higher Ground | Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)

Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference. Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado:
https://accessinghigherground.org/

November 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out

December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM CT. Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out


➜ Directories


1) Access Information Email Newsletter Directory

https://www.accessinformationnews.com/email-newsletter-directory.html



Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.


Access Ready, Inc. logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Seeks Your Support at the Public Policy Level

Moving the public policy needle is both difficult and costly. Access Ready has one of the most experienced teams in the business who have shown results. We have fostered Congressional language on accessible websites, elections, healthcare, communications, and other areas touched by information and communications technologies. These efforts are costly and we need your help to continue. Become an Access Ready supporter and create an accessible future for people with disabilities:
https://accessready.org/

Sponsor Since: December 19th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://accessready.org/ 🌐

Email: info@accessready.org

Phone: (727) 531-1000

About: Access Ready Inc. is a certified, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Access Ready Inc., a nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization, is to promote a policy of accessibility benefiting all people regardless of ability across information and communications technology utilized for two way communications.

The purpose of Access Ready Inc. is to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of accessible information and communications technology to the future of all people regardless of ability.

To support this education by developing initiatives that promote policies that ensure the creation and maintenance of accessible technologies utilized for two way communications at all levels which allow for easy use by people with the widest range of abilities possible.

To develop employment and business opportunities for people with disabilities that support its educational activities in the field of information and communications technology and related areas.

To provide consulting and educational services to buyers, developers, and users of information and communications technology that promotes its highest and best use in society.

To promote the concept of a technologically accessible society which fosters:

Freedom of expression, speech, and worship.
Freedom from fear, ignorance, and want.
Freedom from dishonesty, exclusion, and immorality.
Freedom of aspiration, invention, and inclusion.


Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.


Access Ready, Inc. logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Provides Access To The Best In The Business

If you need assistance with a new accessible website, document remediation or disability consulting of other kinds, Access Ready can help. We seek out the best in the business and bring them to you already vetted as to quality, professionalism and ability. By going through AccessReady.org to one of our qualified providers, you're not only getting the best, but supporting our advocacy and technological development efforts as well:
https://accessready.org/

Sponsor Since: December 13th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://accessready.org/ 🌐

Email: info@accessready.org

Phone: (727) 531-1000

About: Access Ready Inc. is a certified, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Access Ready Inc., a nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization, is to promote a policy of accessibility benefiting all people regardless of ability across information and communications technology utilized for two way communications.

The purpose of Access Ready Inc. is to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of accessible information and communications technology to the future of all people regardless of ability.

To support this education by developing initiatives that promote policies that ensure the creation and maintenance of accessible technologies utilized for two way communications at all levels which allow for easy use by people with the widest range of abilities possible.

To develop employment and business opportunities for people with disabilities that support its educational activities in the field of information and communications technology and related areas.

To provide consulting and educational services to buyers, developers, and users of information and communications technology that promotes its highest and best use in society.

To promote the concept of a technologically accessible society which fosters:

Freedom of expression, speech, and worship.
Freedom from fear, ignorance, and want.
Freedom from dishonesty, exclusion, and immorality.
Freedom of aspiration, invention, and inclusion.


Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.


Access Ready, Inc. logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Seeks Guidance On New Accessible Technologies

What Technologies do you see in the market that are not accessible, but should be? What accessible technologies can you imagine that can make the lives of people with all kinds of disabilities better? We will advocate with developers to make existing technologies accessible on your behalf. We will advocate with developers to build new accessible technologies on your behalf. Give us your guidance and support. Your guidance charts our path toward what is most important. Your support funds our efforts on your behalf:
https://accessready.org/

Sponsor Since: December 1st 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://accessready.org/ 🌐

Email: info@accessready.org

Phone: (727) 531-1000

About: Access Ready Inc. is a certified, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Access Ready Inc., a nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization, is to promote a policy of accessibility benefiting all people regardless of ability across information and communications technology utilized for two way communications.

The purpose of Access Ready Inc. is to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of accessible information and communications technology to the future of all people regardless of ability.

To support this education by developing initiatives that promote policies that ensure the creation and maintenance of accessible technologies utilized for two way communications at all levels which allow for easy use by people with the widest range of abilities possible.

To develop employment and business opportunities for people with disabilities that support its educational activities in the field of information and communications technology and related areas.

To provide consulting and educational services to buyers, developers, and users of information and communications technology that promotes its highest and best use in society.

To promote the concept of a technologically accessible society which fosters:

Freedom of expression, speech, and worship.
Freedom from fear, ignorance, and want.
Freedom from dishonesty, exclusion, and immorality.
Freedom of aspiration, invention, and inclusion.


Sponsor: APH ConnectCenter


APH ConnectCenter logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Prepare For Your Future Today With The All-New APH ConnectCenter's Job Seekers Toolkit!

The APH ConnectCenter and NSITE have partnered to update the Job Seeker's Toolkit, an accessible, self-paced, free online training course. The Toolkit includes five sections covering self-awareness, career exploration tools, the preliminary employment process, the interview, and maintaining employment. We are bringing the Job Seeker's Toolkit to a larger audience and in a Learning Management System format for today's learners, at no cost. Visit APHCareerConnect.org to get started with the Job Seekers Toolkit today at:
https://aphcareerconnect.org/lesson-plans-for-teachers-and-professionals/the-job-seekers-toolkit/

Sponsor Since: November 29th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://aphconnectcenter.org/ 🌐

Email: connectcenter@aph.org

APH ConnectCenter Information and Referral Line:
(800) 232-5463

Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET

Facebook (CareerConnect) | Facebook (FamilyConnect) | Facebook (VisionAware) | Twitter | YouTube

About: The APH ConnectCenter offers curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, and job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives.



Menus4ALL logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: A Revolution in Resolution — Menus for Everyone

No matter when, where or who, the Menus4ALL iPhone app gives you the info you need quickly. No more multiple Google searches to research menus before going out. Info is organized to give you quick access to what you are looking for — the menu! Optimized to give you the best viewing experience. No more struggling to see small print, or looking at a menu in a dimly lit restaurant. Do you use magnification, large print, VoiceOver, a braille display or Voice Control? Enjoy 750,000 fully accessible menus. Download the app today at:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/menus4all/id1640547801?platform=iphone

Sponsor Since: November 20th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://www.menus4all.com/ 🌐

Email: stephanie@menus4all.com

About: 750,000 Accessible Restaurant Menus. On your iPhone ® in the palm of your hand.

App Restaurant Menu, Search and Waiter Alert Screens.

Yes, that's not a typo. The Menus4ALL iPhone app offers 500,000 accessible menus in the United States and 250,000 accessible menus in Canada.

Wherever you are and whenever you want The Menus4ALL iPhone app is the largest network of restaurant menus in one place and all of the menus are fully accessible.

Perfect for when you are out running errands and want to know what restaurants are near your current location. Great for planning a night out with friends. Favorite menus that you want to look at later or when you know you are going back for that amazing dish.

Download The App (Apple): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/menus4all/id1640547801?platform=iphone


Sponsor: WayAround


WayAround logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Try Talking Labels That Work With Your Smartphone For Just $9.99!

Get all the different types of WayTags so you can try the BEST accessible labeling system around. Use the coupon code TryTags to get a WayTag Sampler Pack for just $9.99. Plus, you get FREE shipping. Use the WayTags along with the free mobile app to label your things with a description and other important details, so you can spend less time figuring out what things are, and more time getting things done.
https://www.wayaround.com/shop/sampler-pack/?utm_source=AssistiveTech&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AccessInfoNewsSponsorAd

Sponsor Since: November 18th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐

General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465

Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465

Email: connect@wayaround.com

About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence.

All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®.

Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn't poor eyesight. It's that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn't have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence.

Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8

Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround


Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions


Pneuma Solutions logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Finally! Holding Businesses Accountable

Those who need accessibility accommodations aren't strangers to jumping in with self-advocacy to achieve it. But, what about the rest of us? When explaining the benefits of a reasonable accommodation to one's place of work or school. This is where our self-advocacy kits come in. Pneuma has written up customizable email templates you can modify according to your situation. We cover a variety of different advocacy scenarios. Simply choose your scenario, answer a few simple questions, adapt the language, address it to the right person, and submit it! Self-advocacy has never been easier:
https://pneumasolutions.com/finally-holding-businesses-accountable/

Sponsor Since: November 7th 2022 Calendar icon.

Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐

Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education.

Sales: (866) 202-0520

Support: (650) 249-1000

About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We're proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it's a right. It's also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive?

Contact us here. We'll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs.


Sponsor: NSITE.org


NSITE.org logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: NSITE Connects Employers With Talented People Who Are Blind Or Low-Vision And Supports Talent To Gain Employment

NSITE.org is the first non-profit organization, offering a continuum of services to connect employers with talented job seekers who are blind or low-vision and provides training, employment and career services to these job seekers. Using the NSITE Connect Job Board, which is designed exclusively for individuals who experience vision loss, employers can fill open positions with talent who are blind or have low vision. Job postings are also open to veterans. NSITE-U provides accessible on-demand and virtual instructor-led classes, programs and workshops to support career skills training and professional development for individuals who are blind or have low vision or are veterans. For more information about NSITE and all its services including a free Job Seekers Toolkit developed with APH, American Printing House for the Blind, visit us and use this form to reach NSITE's team for information about programs, classes and services, connect:
https://nsite.org/

Sponsor Since: March 6th 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://nsite.org/ 🌐

About: NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans to meet their workforce needs. As you move through the hiring process, NSITE is with you every step of the way to ensure that finding the right employee-employer match is as smooth and seamless as possible.

NSITE works with employers to identify potential candidates who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans. From there, NSITE assists with accessibility needs, onboarding, and training, then prepares both parties for job placement. Our work does not end there; it continues with ongoing support to accommodate changes in accessible technology and employer requirements.

NSITE Connect: Linking employers with talented individuals who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans. Access the NSITE Connect Job Board here.

About | Media | Employers | Job Seekers | Training Programs | Job Board | Contact Us


Sponsor: Clusiv


Clusiv logo.

Sponsor Since: January 16th 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://clusiv.io/ 🌐

About: As there are many challenges people in the blind community face in employment and education, Clusiv has built the world's first e-learning platform designed for the blind to provide the training, tools, and resources needed to remove barriers to the modern workforce. Our courses teach you occupational and technology skills you need towards employment. Plus, we are working to connect our graduates to internship and job opportunities. Our courses are remote, self-paced, and we provide support throughout your whole journey through our student success team, and even provide lifetime access to our courses so you can keep up to date as technology evolves. You can request Clusiv training through your vocational rehabilitation counselor and fill out the form in the link below on our website. If you are a counselor wanting to learn more about Clusiv for your clients, or an employer looking to hire Clusiv graduates, click the respective link below and fill out a form to get more info.

Person Looking To Enroll In Clusiv Courses

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Looking To Learn More About Clusiv For Their Clients

Employer Looking To Hire Clusiv Graduates


Your Business or Organization Name Here


➜ Classified Advertisement: Your Weekly Classified Advertisement Title Here (256 characters or less including spaces.)

Your weekly Classified Advertisement here.
(1000 characters or less including spaces.)

Your logo here.

Sponsor Since: Today Calendar icon.

Website: https://accessinformationnews.com/ 🌐

Phone: (855) 578-6660

Email: news@accessinformationnews.com

About: Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 13,000 access professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. 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. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication.



Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 13,000 access professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week.

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.

Access Information News offers a total of 18 Sponsorship Packages which are used to support the ongoing distribution of the publication.

Availability: There are currently  9  of  18  Sponsorship Packages available. All 18 Sponsorship Packages are offered on a first-come, first serve basis.

Waiting List: If you would like to become an Access Information News Sponsor but there are no sponsorship packages currently available, we encourage you to join our waiting list by sending an email to: sponsorships@accessinformationnews.com ✉. Once you have joined our waiting list we will notify you the next time a current sponsor decides not to renew. You will then have 72 hours to secure your sponsorship before it is offered to the next sponsor on the list.

Pricing Options: When available you can secure one of these packages for just $300.00 USD for the next 3 months, or $1,200.00 USD for the next year. Annual sponsors gain the ability to schedule all 4 of their Featured Advertisement dates up to one year in advance.


➜ Access Information News Supporters:

We couldn't do it without you! Thank you for your support!

Access Information News Supporters donate an amount of their choosing either one time or on an annual basis in order to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News publication.

Spacer image. QR Code. Donate a one-time amount of your choosing to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News Publication.
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One Time Donation: If you would like to become an Access Information News Supporter by making a one time donation in an amount of your choosing to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News publication, you may utilize this donate link, or scan the QR code to the right.

Annual Donation: If you would like to become an Access Information News Supporter by making a small annual donation to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News publication, we also offer the following options, all with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support.

Exposure: All Access Information News Supporters receive a listing within the "Our Supporters" section of each weekly newsletter, as well as a listing within the "Our Supporters" section of the Access Information News website.

Support: In tandem with Our Sponsors, these are the people that make the ongoing distribution of Access Information News possible.


Platinum Supporters:


Ornate Platinum Medallion.

Become an Access Information News Platinum Supporter today.

1.) James Hulme
Platinum Supporter since December 5th 2022.

2.) Your name here.
Platinum Supporter since ...


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➜ Access Information News Team


Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi (Volunteer)


➜ Classified Advertisement: Is Your Business or Organization Looking to Hire a Professional, Part-Time, Remote Digital Marketer? Aaron Di Blasi, PMP, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., is Seeking a New Client Partnership. Hire Direct And Pay No Agency Fee.

Could your business or organization use help with your digital marketing workflow? Tasks like website administration, article assembly and publication, graphic design, website updates, email newsletter blasts and social media scheduling? Aaron Di Blasi, Owner and Sr. Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. is seeking a new client partnership. Learn more at:
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Volunteer Publisher Since: November 7th 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 Publication and is also the 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 also serves as a Volunteer Editorial Contributor to Access Information News.

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP

Publisher (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Publisher (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

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


Editorial Contributor #1: John Hanlin (Volunteer)


Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: November 7th 2022

Location: Boulder, Colorado

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

In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, John also serves as an Editorial Contributor to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication 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.

Editorial Contributor (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Board of Trustees (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
https://mvsltd.com 🌐


Editorial Contributor #2: Jenna Lang (Volunteer)


Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: November 7th 2022

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

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

In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, Jenna also serves as an Editorial Contributor to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication 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

Editorial Contributor (2022-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

Project Management Professional (2022 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
https://mvsltd.com 🌐


Editorial Contributor #3: David Woodbridge (Volunteer)


Photo of David Woodbridge.

Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: February 6th 2023

Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia

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

In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, David 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.

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

In addition to his weekly contributions to 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

Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Access Information News
The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com 🌐

Editorial Contributor (2023-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits
The Week's News in Access Technology
https://toptechtidbits.com 🌐

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.
https://www.visionaustralia.org/ 🌐

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Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 13,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the archive here. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Contributing Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang and David Woodbridge. Access Information News is a sponsor and reader supported publication.

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