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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, May 29, 2023 - Volume 912

The Week's News in Access Information
https://accessinformationnews.com/

A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication
https://mvsltd.com/

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

Subscribers: 10,381 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 25 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email.

This Week's Featured Advertisement: Access Ready Seeks Answers

On the left is the Access Ready logo. On the right is a photo of Access Ready Chair and CEO Douglas George Towne smiling next to a real American bald eagle. The eagle smiles along with Douglas from atop it's caretaker's hand.

Looking at the three major front runners for President in 2024, which has the best understanding of the digital divide and how it affects people with disabilities?

Questionnaires and invitations to candidates have not really yielded good answers. Not since the 2008 Presidential debates has there been a question related to disability.

So how do we reach them to inform voters with disabilities who is best suited to represent their concerns? An advocacy point to be considered. Of course various organizations will offer questionnaires and invitations to candidate forums with the same canned staff created responses.

Exit polls have never asked voters a disability question, so we may not even know the turnout of voters with disabilities in 2024. This is another point of advocacy.

With the disability population surpassing eighty million Americans now, this constituency deserves better from our leaders and we will keep seeking a way to engage them to gather a better understanding.
https://accessready.org/


Ongoing Distribution Made Possible By Support From: Pneuma Solutions, WayAround, Menus4ALL, APH ConnectCenter, Access Ready, Inc., Clusiv, NSITE.org, Total Tech Solutions, LLC, Hartgen Consultancy, Carrie on Accessibility and Living Blindfully. Learn more about Sponsorship today at: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsor.


Dear Access Information News Subscriber,

Submit your Access Information News Item for free, with timing and placement determined by our editors, here: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-news. Submit a Sponsored News Item, with timing and placement determined by you, here: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-sponsored-news.


1) Top 5 Most Clicked Access Information News Articles From Last Week

A.) Radio and the Blind: An Evolving Relationship | Radio World

In the 1920s, newspaper articles called radio a godsend for the blind. It was both educational and entertaining, and it would help them to feel less isolated. Today, many people with visual impairment live independent lives and enter a variety of occupations, including broadcasting. Thanks to technologies like screen-reading software, most internet websites are accessible. And a growing number of movies and television programs now have audio descriptions. So what role does radio play in a world in which blind people have so many information and entertainment choices?
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/programming-and-sales/radio-and-the-blind-an-evolving-relationship

B.) Introducing Beyond Barriers, Our New Accessibility Travel Column | Conde Nast Traveler

Television host and travel writer Sophie Morgan will cover the latest news, hotels, restaurants, destinations, and tech, helping disabled travelers feel safe, secure, and inspired to travel the world:
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/introducing-beyond-barriers-our-new-accessibility-travel-column

C.) Echolocation Mastery Activates The Visual Cortex In Blind Individuals | BigThink.com

Humans are capable of using sound to navigate the environment in a process called echolocation. In blind people, the visual cortex can adapt its function to process non-visual information. A recent study examined how a brain region called the occipital place area factors into this process:
https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/blind-human-echolocation/

D.) Pop-up Ads Create Accessibility Issues — Here's How to Use Them Effectively | Accessibility.com

You are scrolling through your social media feed and stumble upon an interesting article. You click on the link to learn one. Before you can scroll to the second paragraph, a pop-up ad covers your screen. Its appearance is unexpected, the bright colors or video auto-play make it difficult to look at your phone, and the close button is hard to find. By the time you click away from the pop-up, your enthusiasm for the article has declined. For people without disabilities, pop-ups are usually considered an annoyance. For web users with disabilities, these pop-ups can limit their access to important information. However, many companies highlight the value of pop-up ads for revenue and conversion purposes. You can still keep using these ads, but first, you need to make some tweaks. Here's what you need to know from an accessibility standpoint:
https://www.accessibility.com/blog/pop-up-ads-create-accessibility-issues-heres-how-to-use-them-effectively

E.) 7 Museums, Gardens, And Performance Venues Making Art More Accessible To All | RoadTrippers.com

Decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, there's still a lot of progress to be made in making businesses, cultural institutions, and public spaces truly accessible for everyone. But every new technological advancement and thoughtful initiative allows more and more people to engage with the arts in new ways. From glasses designed to correct for color blindness, tactile displays, and braille signage, to improved wheelchair accessibility, here are seven places in the U.S. that are making experiences and environments more welcoming and comfortable to all visitors:
https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/museums-venues-making-art-more-accessible-to-all/

3) Sponsorship Package Updates

Are you an access-based person, business or organization whose products, services or message would benefit from reaching over 15,000 access professionals each week? If so, please consider becoming a Sponsor today for just $100 a month, paid either quarterly or annually. Annual Sponsors gain the additional benefit of being able to schedule their Featured Advertisement dates up to one year in advance. If you've been looking for a way to consistently reach the largest audience of opt-in access professionals in the world today, please consider becoming an Access Information News Sponsor while packages last. Availability: There are currently 5 Access Information News Sponsorship Packages remaining. Advertising Benefits: Review a complete list of advertising benefits here:
https://www.accessinformationnews.com/sponsorship-information.html#sponsorship-package-benefits

4) Premium Subscriber Updates

Next Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 2nd issue of the 60 Most Clicked Access News Articles for April, May and June of 2023 on Monday, July 3, 2023. Back Issues: There is currently 1 back issue available. Premium Subscribers are entitled to all back issues, anytime they sign up. All available back issues will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchasing your subscription. Please Join Us: If you would like to support the ongoing weekly distribution of free and unbiased access news while receiving a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked Access News Articles of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month:
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5) Sponsored News Items Now Available

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7) Access Information News Click-To-Vote Quick Poll #911 Results | Sponsored By: Access Ready, Inc. | 411 Votes

Question: Access Ready Asks: Which 2024 US Presidential candidate best understands the digital divide and how it affects people with disabilities? (Selections presented in alphabetical order by last name.)

#1 | E.) All of the above.
(203 Votes / 49% of all clicks.)

#2 | A.) Biden, Joseph R.
(61 Votes / 15% of all clicks.)

#3 | D.) None of the above.
(57 Votes / 14% of all clicks.)

#4 | B.) Desantis, Ronald D.
(47 Votes / 11% of all clicks.)

#5 | C.) Trump, Donald J.
(43 Votes / 10% of all clicks.)

Poll Results Link: https://bit.ly/ain-poll911-results

8) Elon Musk Already Lives Rent-Free In Our Heads. Now His Neuralink Has Been Cleared For Human Trials.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the first clinical trials of devices made by Elon Musk's brain-implant firm Neuralink. Founded in 2016, Neuralink has sought FDA's nod since 2019, performing brain implants only in animals till now. The company hopes its technology will help treat paralysis and blindness in humans:
https://qz.com/fda-okays-human-trial-of-elon-musks-neuralink-implants-1850478332

9) Meet Blind Social Media Influencer Lucy Edwards | Motto: "Blind, Not Broken" | Vogue

Social media sensation Lucy Edwards pens a personal essay for British Vogue on the power of her blindness:
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/lucy-edwards-essay?utm_content=249487775&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-18197430

10) NSITE Launches New Blog: Are You Really Ready For A Differently-Abled Employee On Your Team?

Welcome to NSITEful! This new space is an area to discuss, dissect, and share the ideas and efforts impacting the blind and low vision communities; comment on current events; and announce new initiatives in the DEIA space. As the Executive Director of NSITE, I wanted a place where my team and I can share critical updates not just on our own work, but amplify others working in this area and our thoughts on their work. At launch, it felt right to start with one of the pillars of our work that feels urgent to us: accessibility. The proliferation of technology in this area coupled with the growing awareness of what accessibility is and requires feels like a spark about to burst into flame. How to address and improve accessibility is a topic we cover a lot in our day-to-day work as a team:
https://nsite.org/blogs/nsiteful-blog/

11) Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired Announces Podcasts Now Available By Phone | Kirby Lindgren | Director of Professional Outreach

I'm delighted to share with you that we have a new way to enjoy our Hadley podcasts, Hadley Presents and Insights & Sound Bites. Just give a call. They' re on the phone! I love being able to share all that our podcasts have to offer to those who may not be online. So, the number to call, and share with anyone who you think may enjoy listening to our podcasts this way, is (847) 558-1317 📱️. Exciting, right?

12) Brain And Spine Implants Enabled A Paralyzed Man To Climb Stairs And Walk On Rough Terrain, Study Shows | NBC News

A video shows how the technology translates thoughts from the brain into electrical signals that trigger movement:
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/brain-spine-implants-restored-movement-paralyzed-man-rcna85586

13) EPUB 3.3 Becomes A W3C Recommendation

A.) https://www.w3.org/2023/05/pressrelease-epub33-rec.html.en
B.) https://www.w3.org/TR/2023/REC-epub-a11y-11-20230525/

14) 5 Products And Features That Are Making The Digital World More Accessible | Google Blog

Here are 5 product and feature updates built by and for people with disabilities:
https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/accessibility/global-accessibility-awareness-day-google-product-update/

15) Five Screen Reader Accessibility Tests Your QA Team Should Do | TPGi

If your company is working on improving the accessibility of the website for people with disabilities, ensuring your content is accessible to screen reader users will be one of the focuses. As you and your team are busy making changes to your website, software and other digital assets to ensure they're accessible, you will likely have a lot of questions. This post aims to demystify the accessibility screen reader compatibility testing process and show you how screen reader testing can reveal your successes and where your site still contains accessibility barriers:
https://www.tpgi.com/five-screen-reader-accessibility-tests-your-qa-team-should-do/

16) Rishi Sunak Alt Text Tweet Criticized For Misusing Accessibility Feature | BBC News

Publisher (Di Blasi): There is a saying in the media industry that you've probably heard before: "tone-deaf." This saying has nothing to do with not being able to hear actual audio frequencies. It instead refers to one's inability to "read the room," if you will. It is often used to refer to someone that attempts to be knowledgeable in a particular area, only to come across to that audience as completely unknowledgeable in said area. Yes. I think this fits that description to a tee.
BBC News: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been criticized for misusing alt text on social media — weeks after big brands were called out for doing it. His official Twitter account posted a four-picture photo grid showing cabinet members having a meeting. The alt text fields — which are supposed to describe what's in the images for blind users — simply read: "We're growing the economy". Number 10 said it "aims to ensure" images are "as accessible as possible:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-65644575

17) Empowering The Visually Impaired: Thinkerbell Labs' Journey Towards Inclusive Education

With its flagship product Annie, Thinkerbell Labs, an alumnus of the JioGenNext, ensures that visually impaired students have access to high-quality Braille education, irrespective of their geographical location or socio-economic background:
https://yourstory.com/2023/05/empowering-visually-impaired-thinkerbell-labs-journey-towards-inclusive-education

18) Global Accessibility Anger Day | Eric Bailey

For each and every Global Accessibility Awareness Day (#GAAD) post a company puts out today, ask:
https://ericwbailey.website/published/global-accessibility-anger-day/

19) Accessibility Should Be A Cybersecurity Priority, Says UK NCSC

Cybersecurity training, controls, and requirements that are inaccessible, especially to those with disabilities, can make businesses less secure and more vulnerable to risky behaviour:
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3697149/accessibility-should-be-a-cybersecurity-priority-says-uk-ncsc.html

20) Nothing About Us Without Us: Improving Digital Accessibility For Museum Visitors | Museum Next

Ryan Dodge outlines how a headline exhibition at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum gained a new lease on life. The exhibition was also made more accessible through a digitally immersive experience that was tested with disability communities:
https://www.museumnext.com/article/improving-digital-accessibility-for-museum-visitors/

21) The Key to Aligning Accessibility with Feature Releases | Level Access

Digital product management is a balancing act between meeting the needs of users and navigating pressure to deliver new features on time and on budget. Digital accessibility spans across this divide. To serve the broadest possible user base and maximize revenue, product teams need to prioritize accessibility. But too often, product teams only address accessibility after new features are built. This reactive approach takes more effort, drains development hours, and delays features for all users:
https://www.levelaccess.com/blog/the-key-to-aligning-accessibility-with-feature-releases/

22) Accessibility Features — What's New in Max: 10 Key Changes as HBO Max Relaunches With Discovery Content, Enhanced Features | Variety

At launch, Max will feature 6,500 hours of audio descriptive content. That now includes shows lifestyle brands like Magnolia, TLC, and HGTV as well as the HBO and Max originals. In addition, at launch, Max will support screen reader technology on the web, Roku, Vizio, LG, Samsung, Xbox, PlayStation 5, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, DirecTV, Comcast and Cox:
https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/max-launch-whats-new-app-features-hbo-max-discovery-1235621417/

23) For The Blind And Visually Impaired, The Return Of Rental Scooters And Bikes To Dallas Draws Groans

Envision Dallas, which provides services for the visually impaired, asks riders to park rental bikes and scooters correctly so they won't be obstacles on sidewalks:
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/for-blind-visually-impaired-return-rental-scooters-bikes-dallas-draws-groans/287-c46d9d01-695e-436a-9173-beee79376288

24) Sonification Makes Astronomy More Inclusive And Helps Scientists Fine-Tune Celestial Observations

Astronomy is such a visual profession, made relevant and inspiring by the luminescent images created from powerful telescopes like the Webb and Hubble — our eyes on the universe. But not everyone sees it that way:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-23/sound-data-sonification-future-astronomy-studying-universe/102350408

25) 'I Always Felt Like The Gym Wasn't Accessible' — The Struggles Blind People Face To Stay Active

Blind and partially sighted people are "twice as likely" to be inactive compared to the UK population, according to new data. The research, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and British Blind Sport, shows that almost half (48%) of blind people surveyed reported barriers to trying new sports and activities:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/always-felt-gym-wasnt-accessible-004200789.html

26) Mobile Carriers Urged To Improve Accessible Phone Plans For Deaf And Blind Canadians

Those who communicate through sign language are dependent on video communication, which means they require larger data packages:
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/mobile-carriers-urged-to-improve-accessible-phone-plans-for-deaf-and-blind-canadians

27) No Cellphone? No Problem! The Vintage Radio Enthusiasts Prepping For Disaster | The Guardian

Ham radio users, from teenagers to eightysomethings, are ready to communicate in the next crisis — be it a wildfire, pandemic or 'the big one:'
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/27/ham-radio-emergency-natural-disaster-climate-crisis

28) Reading a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) | Equal Entry

Procurement officers and employees responsible for purchasing products for a company may request an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on the ITI Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). The reason why these reports are needed is that organizations want to purchase the most accessible version of a product to ensure it will work for people with disabilities. The VPAT or ACR is the tool to understand whether a product has evaluated and improved access for people with disabilities:
https://equalentry.com/reading-vpat-voluntary-product-accessibility-template/

29) Are Electric Vehicles Too Quiet? | ABC News Australia | YouTube

The sharp rise in EV uptake is prompting calls from the low-vision community to fit the vehicles with noise-emitting devices called acoustic vehicle alert systems (AVAS), so pedestrians can hear them coming at low speeds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J-oNEZfnZ8

30) Ford To Keep AM Radio In Cars After Pressure From Lawmakers | TechCrunch

Ford has reversed its decision to build new vehicles without AM radio after pressure from lawmakers:
https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/23/ford-to-keep-am-radio-in-cars-after-pressure-from-lawmakers/

31) Audible Plus Vs. Premium Plus

With a US market share of 63.4% (as of 2022), Amazon Audiobook is quite popular among users. It allows users to access several podcasts, audiobooks, and classics. As for their subscription plans, earlier, you needed to pay $14.95 monthly as a subscription fee and receive one credit. For two credits, you needed to pay a bit more. However, now there are two different subscription plans available: Audible Plus and Premium Plus. What's the difference between the two? Let's find out:
https://goodereader.com/blog/audiobooks/audible-plus-vs-premium-plus

32) Federal, State Law Permit Disability Discrimination In Wisconsin Voucher Schools

The state Department of Public Instruction says it has no legal authority to force private taxpayer-funded schools to accommodate students with disabilities:
https://www.wpr.org/federal-state-law-permit-disability-discrimination-wisconsin-voucher-schools

33) Advocates: Government Is Failing Residents on Accessibility | GovTech.com

Like many parents, Baltimore-area resident Tony Stephens wants to know how his kids are doing in school. But unlike most of his peers, checking on his son's grades isn't as simple as logging onto a website. Stephens was born legally blind and lost the remainder of his sight in his teenage years. As the father of two sighted boys, he uses screen-reading software to access the web. However, it doesn't work if he encounters a website that wasn't programmed to be compatible with assistive technology:
https://www.govtech.com/biz/data/advocates-government-is-failing-residents-on-accessibility

34) Federal CIO Says IDEA Act Guidance Coming This Summer

Clare Martorana discussed the challenge of building out specific steps to get government agency websites to adopt common standards:
https://fcw.com/digital-government/2023/05/federal-cio-says-idea-act-guidance-coming-summer/386466/

35) American Printing House For The Blind Breaks Ground On New Museum | WLKY News

Leaders from the American Printing House for the Blind broke ground on a new $55 million construction project Monday, May 22, 2023. The organization is renovating its entire campus, which includes creating a brand new museum called "The Dot Experience" in the process:
https://www.wlky.com/article/american-printing-house-blind-new-museum/43963912

36) Disabled Woman Forced To Sleep In Hotel Dining Area 'After Booked Room Was Unavailable' | The Guardian

Kat Watkins, who requires a ventilator at night, said she is suffering from severe back pain after a night at Travelodge in Hounslow:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/21/disabled-woman-forced-to-sleep-in-hotel-dining-area-after-booked-room-was-unavailable

37) People With Disabilities Aren't Often Seen In Stock Photos. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Is Changing That | NPR

A man with a prosthetic leg hooks up a portable generator, the yellow cord stretching a safe distance from his house. A woman with a walker shines a flashlight in a dark kitchen. A guy wearing a hearing aid changes his smoke alarm batteries. These are some of the new stock images recently released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government agency that focuses on accident prevention and has amused the internet for years with its public safety awareness memes on Twitter:
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/23/1177640695/cpsc-stock-photos-people-disabilities-safety-devices

38) Mastercard Rolls Out Its First Inclusive Credit Card For Visually Impaired Consumers In The U.S.

A new-to-market credit card from Citizens will feature a notch meant to signify the type of card:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mastercard-rolls-out-its-first-inclusive-credit-card-for-visually-impaired-consumers-in-the-us/ar-AA1bCpuj

39) 5 Book Recommendations To Help Drive Accessibility Adoption And Strategy | Phil Daquila | Deque

These books helped us help our coaching crews, and they may help you:
https://www.deque.com/blog/5-book-recommendations-to-help-drive-accessibility-adoption-and-strategy/

40) Airbnb Highlights Ongoing Innovation Towards 'Making Travel More Accessible' For All | Forbes: Subscription Required

To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day last week, Airbnb published a blog post in which the San Francisco-based company shared updates on how it's making lodging more accessible and inclusive. Among the so-called “key takeaways” from the announcement is Airbnb's claim it has reviewed and confirmed the accuracy of “almost 300,000 accessibility features across the platform.” Additionally, the company said the new Adapted category, launched back in December as part of its annual Winter Review series, currently features more than 1,100 listings worldwide, with Adapted hosts earning a combined $5.5 million (roughly $4,000 per host) in profit. Lastly, Airbnb announced what it described as the “ten most wishlisted Adapted homes” on the service; they include treehouses, domes, and log cabins, Airbnb said:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2023/05/23/airbnb-highlights-ongoing-innovation-towards-making-travel-more-accessible-for-all/

41) The Ukraine Example — The World Owes Much | Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

I don't think that we will have much of an argument when it comes to a perfect example of commitment and believing in one's self! Just take a look at Ukraine and its fearless leader!
https://sterlingcreations.ca/blog/the-ukraine-example-the-world-ows-much

42) AccessWorld Spring 2023 Issue

Updates Include: Editor's Page: Welcome To The First Issue Of The Relaunched And Expanded Accessworld! | Moderating Google Groups: A Screen Reader And Browser Comparison | Employment Journeys, Darren Burton, Access Industry Veteran | A Novice's Guide to VPATs | Interest In and Adoption of Novel AT: Findings from NRTC's AT in the Workplace Study:
https://www.afb.org/aw/24/5

43) Amid India's OTT boom, Platforms Still Keep The Disabled In The Dark | TheHindu.com

The IT Rules say that streaming services should, “to the extent feasible,” make their content accessible for viewers with disabilities. But a large gap of accessibility exists on streaming platforms:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/the-accessibility-gap-on-streaming-in-india-for-visually-and-hearing-impaired-viewers/article66870874.ece


➜ 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.


May 31, 2023 | TOPAZ Magnifiers: Powerful Visual Aids (Assistive Technology Webinar — ACVREP CE Approved) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
The TOPAZ family of desktop video magnifiers combines ease of use with powerful features to help people retain their independent lifestyle — reading, writing, viewing photographs, and engaging in hobbies. All TOPAZ models are available in several monitor sizes and provide a clear, crisp picture with a wide range of magnification and color-coded controls. The ergonomic design provides exceptional reading comfort for hours of use in the home, office, or school. During this webinar, we discuss the features of all the TOPAZ models and the benefits each can give in specific situations. Join Ian Ramos and Joe McDaniel from Vispero as they dive deep into these powerful tools to help those challenged by vision loss. Note that everybody is welcome and can benefit from this presentation. If you are a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), ACVREP continuing education credit is approved for this presentation. Learning Outcomes: Features of all TOPAZ models. Which features fit your needs best. How adding speech capability can take you further. Join Zoom Meeting: TOPAZ Magnifiers: Powerful Visual Aids | Meeting ID: 818 1319 3745 | Passcode: 159299 | One tap mobile: +16699009128,,81813193745#,,,,*159299# US (San Jose) | Dial by your location +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81813193745?pwd=LzBPaHFOSkp6Rm9iRFZwazlCQmRNdz09

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/

June 2, 2023 | 2023 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: Boundless Braille

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) will be holding its third annual virtual braille symposium on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 1 — 5 PM EDT (10am-2pm Pacific/11am-3pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12pm-4pm Central, 2pm-6pm Atlantic, 5pm-9pm UTC). This event will be of interest to braille readers, educators, transcribers, parents, producers and anyone else with a passion for braille literacy.
https://www.braillists.org/uncategorised/join-the-2023-braille-literacy-canada-symposium-boundless-braille/

June 7th, 2023 | Nothing Inspires People Like Cash! | Total Tech Solutions

4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT
Join our virtual event on June 7, 2023, at 6:00 PM CST! Exciting opportunities await you! This event is open to all ages and backgrounds. Get ready for our first sponsor announcement, engaging contests, and an inspiring talk by Josh Perry from The Houston Hurricanes. Jeff Bazer from Vispero will also join us, providing additional insights. Register for the Zoom event to ensure you don't miss out. Live stream available on Facebook, YouTube, and Clubhouse. Recording will be posted on those platforms as well. Stay tuned for a captivating PromoPod episode on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Spread the word and save the date! #VirtualEvent #Inspiration #PromoPod:
https://shorturl.at/bswUY

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 13, 2023 | Ramping Up Your Accessibility Testing: A Beginner's Guide | TPGi

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenters: Gigi Etienne, Associate Accessibility Engineer. As an experienced accessibility professional that is new to accessibility testing, Gigi Etienne will share the learnings of this past year, the mistakes she's made, and pass on the most useful tips and feedback she's received. The goal is for you to leave with a better understanding of how accessibility testing works and the key things you should be looking for when testing a website or app. She will present you with a practical and simplified approach to the testing process so you can get started and quickly become a better and more efficient accessibility tester. Whether you are new to accessibility testing, are looking to become an accessibility auditor, or simply want to have the skills to do some accessibility testing as part of your job, this session is for you. Register today:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-june-13-at-12pm-et-ramping-up-your-accessibility-testing-a-beginners-guide/

June 21, 2023 | Understand, Test, Solve: ARIA

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenters: Aaron Farber, Senior Accessibility Platform Consultant. TPGi's Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) platform empowers teams to solve common accessibility issues while growing their understanding over time. The monthly “Understand, Test, and Solve” webinar series covers fundamental concepts in accessibility. Attendees learn how to address the set of WCAG Success Criteria for each concept. Over the course of this series, teams achieve full WCAG coverage in their testing:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-june-21-at-12pm-et-understand-test-solve-aria/

June 27, 2023 | Blind, Equity, Inclusion Free Webinar | NSITE

11:30AM PT, 12:30PM MT, 1:30PM CT, 2:30PM ET, 6:30PM GMT
Learn about BEI (Blind, Equity & Inclusion) and how you can increase your ROI. Recognize unconscious bias; examine "blind spots" in your diversity hiring; recognize "diverse abilities"; identify the bottom line and ROIs of hiring this talent. Presented by NSITE's DEI Team Rikki Howie & Doug Goist:
https://bit.ly/NSITE-BEI

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 1, 2023 through July 6, 2023 | NFB 2023 National Convention in Houston, Texas

The National Federation of the Blind is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind people. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Each year we come together for important discussions, decisions, and information sharing. As an attendee, take advantage of the opportunity to: Network with thousands of blind role models. Connect with leaders in the field of blindness. Attend presentations on a variety of empowering topics. Learn about the latest in technology and innovation. And more! The convention is open to all. Important note: Our constitution states that only members of the Federation have the right to participate in decision-making when it comes to organizational policy. If you are not already a member, please connect with your state affiliate at:
https://nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates

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

July 25, 2023 | U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore

10:30PM PT, 11:30PM MT, 12:30PM CT, 1:30PM ET, 5:30PM GMT
The U.S. Access Board will hold a public town hall meeting at the national headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. Presidentially appointed Access Board members and representatives from other federal member agencies will be present to hear from the local community about the state of accessibility in Baltimore and the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Following the town hall meeting, there will be a reception and networking opportunity from 3:30 — 4:30 (ET), sponsored by the Maryland Department of Disabilities. The town hall meeting and reception are open to all members of the public. Please register for in-person attendance by July 1, 2023. To register, send an email to events@access-board.gov 📧️ with your name and organization. The Access Board invites in-person oral comments on accessibility. Registrants who wish to make in-person oral comments must indicate their request to speak when emailing events@access-board.gov. Public commenters will be allotted two minutes to make their comments

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


Sponsors may submit or update their Classified Advertisement at any time by submitting this short form: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-sponsor-classified.


Sponsor: Clusiv


Clusiv logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Clusiv Is The World's First eLearning Platform Built For And By People Who Are Blind. Our Courses Are Designed To Equip People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired For Employment In The Modern Workforce. Learn More At Clusiv.Io.

Navigating the employment process can be challenging if you are blind or visually impaired. Technology is difficult to figure out, there is a lot of extra material to learn, and there isn't much quality training available.

That's where Clusiv comes in. We help to provide the training you need to succeed in the modern workforce. Our courses teach assistive technology skills and how to apply those skills to many of the business software programs used in the modern workforce, such as email, Microsoft and Google apps, video conferencing, and more. We also teach soft skills such as resume and interview preparation, disclosures and accommodations, internet safety, and financial literacy. Lastly, our training can teach specific career skills, such as becoming an accessibility analyst. Plus, our courses are self-paced.

To learn more, visit https://clusiv.io/ and fill out a form with your information. We work with state vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide access to our course content.

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


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: HURRY — Stock Up on WayTags Before Prices Increase on June 1!

WayAround is the best way to label things if you're blind or have low vision. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags ® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more. Prices on WayTags will increase on June 1, so stock up today on your favorite tags.
https://www.wayaround.com/shop/?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: Remote Incident Manager for Mac: Cruising Right Along!

The development of Remote Incident Manager for Mac has hit several milestones in the past couple weeks. We've introduced the ability to control a Mac fully unattended, the implementation of seamless file transfers on Mac targets, and the ability to gracefully assist a Mac through a reboot process! For those of you who have yet to experience the world's first cross-platform fully accessible remote support package, get in on the action at: https://pneumasolutions.com/remote-incident-manager-for-mac-public-beta/! Giving and receiving help has never been easier or more accessible, particularly for our Mac crowd. Prepare for a seamless experience that will forever change the way you receive and/or provide remote support and training. And if something isn't working quite right, please don't hesitate to give us feedback at: https://pneumasolutions.com/contact/! Remote Incident Manager: For the first time ever, remote help for the Mac is just a keyword away.

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: Living Blindfully


Left: Jonathan Mosen talking into a microphone with a Braille display and studio mixer in front of him. Right: The Living Blindfully logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Be Informed First. Join Living Blindfully Plus

Whether it's a product demo, a hot topic or an in-depth interview, the Living Blindfully podcast is a must-hear to find out what's on the mind of the blind community. Ensure you're among the first to be in the know. Join Living Blindfully Plus to receive episodes three days before they're public. Pay what you can afford or what you think it's worth. Set it and forget it with a recurring subscription which you can cancel any time, or just pay for a single month, the choice is yours. And when you subscribe to Living Blindfully Plus, you're supporting an important resource for the blind community where the global conversation continues every week. Join today and enjoy your Plus benefits immediately.
https://LivingBlindfully.com/plus

Sponsor Since: May 29, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://www.livingblindfully.com/ 🌐️

About: Living Blindfully is the podcast devoted to helping you live your best life with blindness or low vision. Sight is a highly dominant sense. If you have it, naturally you'll use it for a lot of things. But if you don't have it, or you don't have as much sight as you used to, it's still possible to live a rich, full life. This podcast is all about how it's done.

We discuss tips and tricks, but we frankly discuss the barriers too, ranging from attitudinal barriers to accessibility barriers and more.

You'll hear plenty about technology on Living Blindfully, because when blind people have the skills to use it and when the tech is behaving itself, it's key to functional and economic independence. Whether it's a tech question from our community, a handy tip about getting the most from your screen reader, a demonstration of a cool new app for your smartphone, or discussion about a serious accessibility issue that is causing problems, you'll learn about it on Living Blindfully. We geek out sometimes, but we always make a point of bringing people along for the ride and making sense of it all.

But technology is simply a tool to help us live blindfully, so our podcast discusses much more. The topics on each episode vary a lot, but it's not uncommon to hear discussion about travel, cooking, relationships, self-care, sleep, history and even politics. After all, blind people have as diverse a mix of interests and opinions as anyone else.

While we welcome sighted allies and family members who have an interest in what blind people are thinking and talking about, Living Blindfully is unapologetically for blind people, by blind people. There are other great places to go to learn about how blind people do what we do. But there are few places that proudly cater to the blind community. So, if you're not blind but you're interested in an unfiltered discussion about what's occupying the blind community, you've come to the right place and you're very welcome.

Jonathan Mosen is the host and facilitator of Living Blindfully, and often conducts interviews and produces product demonstrations. But you'll also hear from our engaged community of listeners who share their thoughts in writing and in audio. You're very welcome to contribute on anything you hear during the show, or something new that's on your mind.


Sponsor: Carrie on Accessibility


Carrie on Accessibility. Accessibility Explored. Shows technology to the right with accessibility features enabled.

Sponsor Since: May 29, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://carrieonaccessibility.com/ 🌐️

Email: email@carrieonaccessibility.com 📧️

About: Carrie's mission with Carrie on Accessibility (CoA) is to promote accessibility and to empower those, like herself, who are blind and visually impaired. Through her YouTube channel and other social media platforms, she shares videos exploring accessibility and assistive technology, along with other resources and encouragement that can benefit the community.

Carrie on Accessibility emphasizes accessibility, which is the path forward to equal access for those with disabilities. Designing with accessibility in mind is incredibly important. WCAG compliance is necessary and right, but compliance does not always equal accessibility. End user testing is the ultimate test. Through Carrie on Accessibility's Accessibility Review, businesses can evaluate the real world usability and functionality of their products and services.

Whether you're a content creator, small business owner, startup, organization, or corporation, Carrie on Accessibility can help you push beyond the limits to provide and promote accessibility.


Sponsor: Hartgen Consultancy


Left: Hartgen Consultancy logo. A pointed oval contains the words 'Hartgen Consultancy' written in a stylized script on a dark background. Right: The hands of a blind technician use a braille notetaker to troubleshoot a PC. QWERTY keyboard and braille notetaker visible.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Keep Up-To-Date With What's Happening On Twitter!

Do you still use the JAWS screen-reader and Twitter even though the third party apps are a thing of the past? If so, do you get tired of hearing extra speech, such as when a tweet was posted and the full username in addition to the tweet? How do you discover how many characters you have typed when composing a tweet? When carrying out common Twitter actions, such as moving to your Home Timeline, wouldn't it be better to press one keystroke instead of two? The JAWS scripts for the Twitter web site and Store App are here. Easy to remember shortcut keys, such as Up and Down Arrow to move through tweets, Control+N to compose a new tweet, Control+R to reply, etc. Abbreviated Mode which will condense what you hear (or see in Braille) as you move through tweets. Character count and warning if you type too much text. Documentation to provide descriptions of how to use the various functions. And much more.
http://www.hartgen.org/twitter

Sponsor Since: May 29, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://www.hartgenconsultancy.com/ 🌐️

About: Hartgen Consultancy was established with a mission to provide accessible training and usable software tools to individuals with vision loss and to the deaf Blind community. Product offerings have and continue to significantly contribute to the employability and productivity of these communities. Our vision of inclusiveness and accessibility; a vision that informs every training module, all adaptive products, and excellent customer service, embodies the commitment to the core values of the company.

Popular Products

JAWS Scripts for Microsoft Teams.
J-Say.
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Leasey.
StationPlaylist Studio Accessible Broadcasting.
JAWS for Windows Training Courses.
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Sponsor: Total Tech Solutions, LLC


Total Tech Solutions, LLC logo.

Sponsor Since: April 4, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://blindtech.org/ 🌐️

About: TTS (Total Tech Solutions) is a startup technology company owned and operated in the Dallas Fort Worth area which specializes in offering services for the blind and visually impaired. While this is it's main focus, TTS also caters to the general public. Since its founding, TTS continues to make strides in demonstrating the countless ways blind and visually impaired individuals can contribute in all aspects of the workforce. This is one of the reasons why this company chooses to hire applicants who are visually impaired; to prove that there is a place in society for persons of any type of visual impairment, and to create a positive environment so one can thrive, live life to their fullest potential and to be a positive example to their communities and their families.

Shop: BlindShell Classic | Shop: ARxWear | Shop: All Products | Services | Events | About | Contact Us


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


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 15,000 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 15,000 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  5  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!

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

Benefits: 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.

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.

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


Platinum Supporters:


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1.) James Hulme
Platinum Supporter Since: December 5, 2022

2.) Donna Jodhan
Platinum Supporter Since: March 24, 2023

3.) Your name here.
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Gold Supporters:


Ornate Gold Medallion.

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Silver Supporters:


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Bronze Supporters:


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➜ Access Information News Team


Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi (Volunteer)


Photo of Aaron Di Blasi.

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/ 🌐️

Email: editor@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
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A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication: https://toptechtidbits.com


➜ Subscription Information


ABOUT:

Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 15,000 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.

RELEASE SCHEDULE:

Access Information News is released every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET.

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SPONSOR:

If you would like to become 1 of only 18 Access Information News Sponsors whose annual support makes the distribution of Access Information News possible, we offer you the following benefits, with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsorship-information.html.

SUPPORT:

If you would like to become an Access Information News Supporter by making a small one time or annual donation to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News publication, we offer the following options, with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support: https://accessinformationnews.com/donate.html.

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QUESTIONS:

If you have questions regarding any of the material published in Access Information News please feel free to reach out to our Publisher at publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ or our Editors at editors@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ and we will attempt to provide you with answers as time and knowledge permit.

ARCHIVE

Visit the Access Information News Archive at: https://accessinformationnews.com/archive.html where you can grab back issues.

CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS:

Any information for future issues of Access Information News may be submitted online via our Access Information News Item Submission Form at: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-news or directed to our Editors at: editors@accessinformationnews.com 📧️.


Five stylized access logos, a long cane user, hearing aid user, full braille cell, fingers signing interpreter, and enlarged print.

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Access Information News
https://accessinformationnews.com/  🌐

A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication

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