Home: Access Information News News: Access Information News Subscribe: Access Information News Donate: Access Information News Sponsor: Access Information News Facebook: Access Information News X (Formerly Twitter): Access Information News Mastodon: Access Information News LinkedIn: Access Information News YouTube: Access Information News RSS: Access Information News Back to Top

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, December 4, 2023 - Volume 939

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: 11,293 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 36 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email.

This Week's Featured Advertisement: Join Industry Leaders And Begin Reaching Over 15,000 Access Professionals, Educators and Enthusiasts, All Over The World, Each Week. All While Supporting The Ongoing Distribution of This Publication For Those Very Same Readers. Only $100 USD Per Month. While Packages Last. This Issue Made Possible By Support From The Following Sponsors:

Pneuma Solutions logo. WayAround logo. APH ConnectCenter logo. Access Ready, Inc. logo. Access Ready, Inc. logo. Access Ready, Inc. logo.
Clusiv logo. Total Tech Solutions, LLC logo. Eyes on Success logo. The logo is a black square with rounded corners and has the letters EOS in silver across the top with 4 silver lines fanning out downwards from the bottom of the O. Since the initials of the show's name (Eyes On Success) spell the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn (EOS), the logo was designed to give the impression of a sunrise which in turn provides a positive uplifting feeling in keeping with the theme of the show. We are grateful to our daughter Allison for the graphic design work. Sponsor: Hadley. Sponsor: Vision Ireland. Sponsor: Barrier Free Canada.
Advertising Package available. Advertising Package available. Advertising Package available. Advertising Package available. Advertising Package available. Advertising Package available.

Ongoing Distribution Made Possible By Support From: Pneuma Solutions, WayAround, APH ConnectCenter, Access Ready, Inc., Total Tech Solutions, LLC, Eyes on Success, Hadley, Vision Ireland and Barrier Free Canada. 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) Low Vision Resources on a Dime | Future In Sight

Remember the five and dime stores, when items were literally priced 5-10 cents each? Nowadays we enjoy our local dollar store, which used to be $1.00 but are now $1.25. Regardless, it's still a great deal! Did you know that your local dollar store has amazing products for low vision for a fraction of the cost? Here are a few of our favorites!
https://futureinsight.org/blog-lowvisionresources/

B) Even Now, Great Radio is Just a Click Away | Sean Ross | RadioInsight.com

I've been spending more time with airchecks of classic radio lately. It's not just radio geekery, although I've got nothing to hide. It's not just a comment on the state of today's radio; I still find things that I like. But it is nice to hear a level of craftmanship that is less readily available now. Not every moment sizzles decades later, but there's enough to confirm that I'm not merely romanticizing things:
https://radioinsight.com/blogs/261167/even-now-great-radio-is-just-a-click-away/

C) Study Finds Brain Area That Can Assist Blind People In Face Recognition | Interesting Engineering

Researchers have identified a specific brain region that helps vision-impaired people recognize basic faces. They have also created an experimental gadget that assists blind people in recognizing basic facial expressions. Georgetown University Medical Center neuroscientists revealed that the fusiform face area, a vital region for face processing in sighted people, plays an important role in helping blind people recognize faces:
https://interestingengineering.com/science/brain-assist-blind-face-recognition

D) Making Things Work — We Need To Change Our Attitudes! | Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

We need to realize that the only way out of this present horrible situation that we have helped to create is for us to change our attitudes and do it now! Nothing good is going to come to us if we continue to complain instead of commit! Just my two cents for today:
https://sterlingcreations.com/blog/making-things-work-we-need-to-change-our-attitudes

E) Software That Supports Your Body Should Always Respect Your Freedom | Free Software Foundation | Miriam Bastian

Software that controls your body should always respect your freedom. This article is a recap of scandals of medical devices, like hearing aids, insulin pumps, bionic eyes, and pacemakers, and what we can learn from them. It's astonishing: you wouldn't expect these devices to be run by software in such a way that they can leave you completely helpless:
https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/software-that-supports-your-body-should-always-respect-your-freedom

2) Sponsorship Packages

Are you an access-based person, business or organization whose products, services or message would benefit from reaching over 15,000 access information subscribers each week? If so, please consider becoming a Sponsor today for just $100 a month, paid either monthly, quarterly or annually. Monthly-paying Sponsors receive no Featured Advertisements. Quarterly-paying Sponsors receive one Featured Advertisement per quarter. Annual-paying Sponsors receive 5 Featured Advertisements per year and gain the additional benefit of being able to schedule their Featured Advertisements up to one year in advance. If you've been looking for a way to consistently reach the largest audience of opt-in access information subscribers in the world today, at a nearly negligible price point, please consider becoming an Access Information News Sponsor while packages last.
Availability: There are currently 6 Access Information News Sponsorship Packages available:
Dear Potential Sponsor: https://accessinformationnews.com/dearsponsor
Benefits Breakdown: https://accessinformationnews.com/15.html
Purchase: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsor#purchase

3) Premium Subscriber Updates

Next Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 4th Issue of the 60 Most Clicked Access News Articles for October, November and December of 2023 on Monday, January 1, 2024. Back Issues: There are currently 3 back issues 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:
https://www.accessinformationnews.com/premium-subscribers.html

4) Sponsored News Items Now Available

Use Sponsored News Items to reach the access community when you need to. Whether you are a current Sponsor or not. Current Weekly Subscriber Count: Over 12K. Drive traffic to your access product and service announcements, events, updates or fundraisers using this incredibly cost-effective and easy-to-use advertisement tool. Learn more today at:
https://www.accessinformationnews.com/sponsored-news-items.html

5) Follow Access Information News On Your Preferred Channel

In addition to receiving Access Information News via email every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET you can also pick up the newsletter and its trending articles on any of the following channels:
Email: https://accessinformationnews.com/subscribe
Facebook: https://accessinformationnews.com/facebook
LinkedIn: https://accessinformationnews.com/linkedin
Mastodon: https://accessinformationnews.com/mastodon
RSS: https://accessinformationnews.com/rss
X (Formerly Twitter): https://accessinformationnews.com/x
YouTube: https://accessinformationnews.com/youtube

6) Screen Reader Comparison: JAWS vs. VoiceOver vs. NVDA vs. TalkBack | Inclusion & Accessibility Labs

There are a wide range of screen readers on the market with different features and ways they render digital content. We've compared the top screen readers to help you decide which software is best for you or someone you know:
https://ialabs.ie/screen-reader-comparison/

7) CCLVI Scheigert Scholarships 2024 / 2025 | Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)

The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI), an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, annually awards four scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to full time college students - two incoming freshman, an undergraduate and a graduate student — all of whom must be low vision, maintain a strong GPA and be involved in school / local community activities. Deadlines, guidelines and application here:
https://www.accessinformationnews.com/documents/CCLVI-Scheigert-Scholarships-2024-2025.pdf

8) Could A Blind Person Get A Job As A Graphic Designer Using AI? | David Redmond | Vision Ireland

Unfortunately, some jobs are simply visual by design. I can't really write anything outside of my signature, never mind drawing anything or becoming a graphic designer. But could that be about to change? It might seem a stupid question, but could a blind person get a job as a graphic designer with AI? What would this mean for blind people? And what does it mean for the graphic design profession as a whole? It's time to try to become a visually impaired graphic designer:
https://vi.ie/could-a-blind-person-get-a-job-as-a-graphic-designer-using-ai/

9) National Library Service (NLS) For The Blind And Print Disabled Library of Congress Launches Updated Website

In October, NLS launched a major update to its website, https://www.loc.gov/nls, with the goal of making the site more dynamic, engaging, and intuitive and to improve findability for patrons and other website users. Specific changes include: A front page with links to the most sought-after information, such as lists of new materials and information on events and site updates. Consolidation of duplicate pages. Extensive cross-referencing and linking to resources. Multiple points of entry to our most popular book finding aids — catalog searches, BARD, and Talking Book Topics. Enhanced accessibility tools, such as a toggle for underlining links, contrast options, and text settings. A dedicated page for BARD and BARD Mobile updates to help current users better understand new features. We encourage all patrons to visit the newly updated site and bookmark it in your favorite browser:
https://www.loc.gov/nls/

10) Free Braille Calendars Available | National Library Service (NLS) For The Blind And Print Disabled Library of Congress

NLS now offers a free braille calendar in both wall-sized and pocket-sized formats for patrons. Please reach out to your cooperating network library if you would like to subscribe to receive a calendar annually.
https://www.loc.gov/nls/

11) Not All Screen Reader Users Are Blind | TemperTemper.net

There's a common misconception that everyone who uses screen reader software is blind. That's mostly the case, but not always. According to the most recent WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey (from 2021), 79.5% of screen reader users are blind. The remaining 20.5% who are not blind may have low or impaired vision, but some may have perfect vision. Let me explain:
https://www.tempertemper.net/blog/not-all-screen-reader-users-are-blind

12) 10 Different Gift Ideas for Blind People: How to Choose the Perfect Gift for Christmas? | Hable

We've curated a list of 10 unique and creative gift ideas that will leave your loved ones speechless:
https://www.iamhable.com/tips-and-tricks/10-different-gift-ideas-for-blind-people-how-to-choose-the-perfect-gift-for-christmas

13) The Tactile Times Advent Calendar And Countdown To Christmas 2023

Welcome to the Tactile Times advent calendar. As far as we know this is the first fully-accessible online advent calendar aimed specifically at young braillists. Click on today's door to reveal the hidden content for today:
https://games.tactiletimes.org/advent

14) BrailleBlaster 2.1.2-Beta Released | November 20, 2023 | APH

We are pleased to announce the release of BrailleBlaster 2.1.2-beta. There are a good number of bug fixes and improvements in this release, including better file handling support, better support for tables and improvements to the find and replace tool, as well as some fixes for math, emphasis and other general use. As usual this release can now be downloaded from the BrailleBlaster website https://www.brailleblaster.org and the full release notes can be found with the download. Finally we feel we are getting close to a point where we can make a 2.1.X stable release, so we would really appreciate feedback from those who do try this beta release:
https://www.brailleblaster.org/download.php

15) Siri Workshop Series | Hadley

Learn how to use your voice, and your iPhone's built-in assistant Siri, to make calls, send texts, set reminders, check the weather, and more. Check out how to get the most out of Siri in this series of Workshops below. Do you have a friend, relative, or client who doesn't use a computer? We are happy to send large print, digital talking book audio, or braille versions of our workshops in the mail:
https://hadley.edu/workshops/siri-series?_q=sp2d3uh4ufm

16) What is a Braille Keyboard? | Allyant

Braille keyboards are special kinds of keyboards that allow visually impaired and blind people who rely on braille to communicate to be able to type just as a non-braille user would. Braille keyboards use certain keys to represent each braille dot in a cell. This article will discuss how to use a braille keyboard, different kinds of braille keyboards, and more:
https://allyant.com/what-is-a-braille-keyboard-types/

17) Blind Papa John's Worker Fired Over His Service Dog, Feds Say. Now Company Will Pay

In a notable legal case, Michael Barnes, a blind employee at a Papa John's Pizza location in Athens, Georgia, was fired due to bringing his guide dog, Indie, to work, prompting a lawsuit. Initially, Barnes was assured by the store manager that having Indie wouldn't pose a problem, discussing options to keep the dog in a crate during work hours. However, the accommodation request committee later denied Barnes's request and terminated his employment, citing health and safety concerns, though failing to specify any violated regulations. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit on Barnes' behalf, claiming the dismissal violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Papa John's agreed to pay $175,000 to settle the lawsuit and committed to training its accommodations request committee and human resources personnel on the ADA, reasonable accommodations, and discrimination. This case highlights the challenges faced by disabled workers in seeking reasonable workplace accommodations and the importance of adherence to anti-discrimination laws:
https://news.yahoo.com/blind-papa-john-worker-fired-182911066.html

18) Community Helps Search For Blind Man's Stolen Dog | ABC15 Arizona | YouTube

ABC 15's Jordan Bontke reports on the challenging situation faced by Tanner Gears, a blind man, who is searching for his stolen French Bulldog, known as "The General." The dog, named for its camouflage color, was a companion for both Gears and his daughter, aiding in her growth and communication development. Gears, who lost his vision due to a car accident, found comfort in The General's heavy breathing, a sound that provided him a sense of security. Nearly two weeks ago, the sound of The General's breathing abruptly ceased, leading Gears to discover from his neighbors that the dog might have been picked up and driven away by a car. Despite filing a police report and the community actively investigating with various tips, The General remains missing. One tip suggested the dog was being resold, while another indicated a sighting of a similar dog in a park. Gears, emphasizing his emotional connection to The General, stated he wouldn't press charges if the dog was returned, underlining the profound impact the dog has on his and his daughter's life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXMppYxgRuE

19) Radio Reminiscences . . . A Reader Participation Post | The SWLing Post | With Commentary By David Goldfield, Tech-VI List

David Goldfield: I've been a fan of audio theater since I was around ten years old when my dad bought me a recording of an early episode of "the Shadow" starring Orson Wells. The Shadow has become my favorite series of that time and Wells, while only playing the role for one season, is my favorite in the role. The below article also mentions Big John and Sparky. I first became aware of John Arthur's talent in the mid-1970s when, as a kid, I discovered his No School Today program on Family Radio which aired those older fifteen-minute serials each week. Many collectors who sell audio theater in MP3 format often provide Big John and Sparky as one of their offerings and I was able to locate one and purchased a CD containing 97 episodes. As I enjoy science fiction I naturally became a fan of Dimension X and X Minus One which produced some great SF stories. As a kid I enjoyed many of the weekly sitcoms. I still enjoy some of them but drama has stuck with me over the years and that's what I continue to listen to the most. Many people refer to audio drama as audio theater instead of old time radio since many companies and individuals continue to produce it directly to the Internet. Considering that new audio theater is rarely produced on U.S. terrestrial radio the Internet has provided a great service by reviving this type of entertainment. Audio theater is understandably attractive to many of us who are blind as it requires no audio description and, if it's well-written, requires little to no narration. The Internet Archive is a great source for what would be considered old time radio but the site can be a challenge to navigate. Performing an Internet search for what you're looking for will help to narrow things down.
The SWLing Post: In this post by Jock Elliott, KB2GOM, the author shares his nostalgia-evoking experience of listening to "Theatre of the Mind" on Zoomer Radio, Toronto. This program, airing Monday to Friday, revives "Old Time Radio" shows, a staple of earlier radio broadcasting. Elliott recounts being transported back to his childhood in the 1950s, eagerly anticipating shows like "Big John and Sparky" and "Space Patrol." He highlights the unique appeal of radio dramas where imagination completes the scene, contrasting it with the less impactful experience of watching these shows on television. Elliott's personal journey with radio also included a germanium diode radio, which he used for clandestine late-night jazz listening, and later, a Zenith Transoceanic, enriching his auditory adventures. The post invites readers to share their own cherished radio memories, forming a tapestry of radio's enduring impact:
https://swling.com/blog/2023/11/radio-reminiscences-a-reader-participation-post/

20) Mobile App Accessibility: What Blind Customers Want You to Know | Michael Taylor | Usable.net

In most of my previous posts, I have spoken about accessibility on desktop websites. Today, I will be writing about common accessibility problems on mobile applications. The number of people who use mobile applications on smartphones and tablets is steadily increasing. I myself do all of my online shopping and banking through apps on my iPhone and iPad. While I find apps to be more user-friendly and exhibit fewer accessibility bugs than websites, the experience is far from flawless. I have found that some companies offer a solid accessibility experience on the website but a poor one on the app. As more customers rely on mobile, companies should consider the app as a key part of their overall accessibility portfolio. As always, I will be exclusively covering screen reader accessibility in this post. Mobile screen readers work differently than desktop-based screen readers, but I'll explain more later:
https://blog.usablenet.com/mobile-app-accessibility-what-blind-customers-want-you-to-know

21) 3 Ways Online Retailers Can Improve the Shopping Experience for People With Disabilities | MyTotalRetail.com

For people with disabilities, accessibility barriers are a persistent challenge on e-commerce sites. AudioEye's Digital Accessibility Index — which scanned nearly 40,000 enterprise sites to identify the most common accessibility issues — found that the retail industry performed below average in several key areas, including image and form accessibility:
https://www.mytotalretail.com/article/3-ways-online-retailers-can-improve-the-shopping-experience-for-people-with-disabilities/

22) A Plea for Page Numbers! | InclusivePublishing.org

In recent interviews conducted by the user research team at EBSCO, readers of academic texts revealed that they are hesitant to embrace ebooks provided in EPUB format despite its many benefits. What causes the most trepidation for users and librarians is a lack of confidence that citations generated from EPUB-formatted ebooks without page numbers will be accepted by faculty. Inclusive Publishing Partner, EBSCO, explores the reasons behind this and how we can remedy this situation:
https://inclusivepublishing.org/blog/a-plea-for-page-numbers/

23) Digital accessibility updates on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2024 | Shawn Lawton Henry | W3C

For IDPD, we are highlighting translations of accessibility resources. All WAI translations lists accessibility resources in over 35 languages. Thanks to volunteer translators:
https://www.w3.org/blog/2023/digital-accessibility-updates-on-international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-idpd-2024/

24) The Walmart Woes — Time To Hold Them And Others Accountable | Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

My final thoughts? We really need to hold the feet of these types of stores and others to the fire and literally strong arm them into paying attention and taking positive action! Just my two cents for today:
https://sterlingcreations.com/blog/the-wal-mart-woes-time-to-hold-them-and-others-accountable

25) Diabetes Organizations You'll Want To Follow | DiabetesDaily.com

As National Diabetes Awareness Month comes to an end, we wanted to highlight some incredible organizations. Throughout the year, these non-profit organizations and registered charities work tirelessly to make a difference for those living with diabetes. Through fundraising for research, developing clinical guidelines, providing education to healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes, or creating opportunities for those living with the disease to interact and engage with each other, they help us live our best lives:
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/diabetes-organizations-youll-want-to-follow-717552/

26) Common Challenges When Grocery Shopping Online As A Blind User | Michael Taylor | UsableNet.com

It is that time of year again when everyone is shopping for that perfect Thanksgiving turkey, ingredients for that warm and delicious pumpkin pie, or all of the fixings for a scrumptious batch of fun holiday cookies. Online grocery shopping is one area of business that will undoubtedly experience increased usage this Thanksgiving and holiday season. So many websites allow users to shop for their favorite groceries from the comfort of their laptop or smartphone and have them delivered directly to their door or assembled for one-stop pickup at the store. After exploring some of these platforms, I discovered several common accessibility flaws that make the experience less than desirable for blind shoppers like myself. I will discuss some of my findings in this post. As always, I will strictly be speaking about screen reader accessibility:
https://blog.usablenet.com/common-challenges-when-grocery-shopping-online-as-a-blind-user

27) Summary And Feedback Forms - CAN-ASC-5.1 Standard On Emergency Measures: Public Review Draft | Accessibility Standards Canada

Accessibility means no one is left behind in the case of an emergency. Our new draft standard on emergency measures aims to keep everyone, particularly people with disabilities, safe. Tell us what you think:
https://ow.ly/rqU650QcEVA


➜ 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.


December 4, 2023 through December 6, 2023 | 2023 National Coding Symposium for Students | APH

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
The 2023 National Coding Symposium is back for another year of coding fun, bringing even more opportunities to engage students and all levels of coders! This event has been moved from spring to December to coincide with Computer Science Education Week. The goal of the Coding Symposium is to build connections between students, teachers, and professionals in coding. The symposium will be completely virtual, enabling more students, teachers, and family members nationwide to attend than an in-person event would have allowed. Professionals from Apple, Deque Systems, Bridges, NSITE, HumanWare and more will also be in attendance, sharing ideas, activities, resources, and career opportunities:
https://www.aph.org/2023-national-coding-symposium-for-students/

December 6, 2023 | Basics of PowerPoint Accessibility Remediation (Digital Accessibility Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
One of the most used presentation programs is PowerPoint. We will cover the basics of structuring PowerPoint documents for accessibility, including how to effectively add alternate text to images, especially those with multiple parts like flowcharts, and best practices for making your PowerPoint files accessible. Join Rachel Reeves from Access Ingenuity to learn how to make your PowerPoint accessible for screen readers. Learning Outcomes & Zoom Webinar Information: Highlight how to use Office formatting features to create accessible documents. Explore the accessibility tools in PowerPoint, such as the Reading Order pane, and how to add alternative text. Go through the steps in creating a clean PowerPoint Accessibility Check:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89851602654?pwd=cEtva3Rsd21tM1h5Rk9wb0J2VzZ4dz09&mc_cid=e69ad01a13&mc_eid=90429c1885#success

December 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023 | Sight Tech Global — Shaping New Technologies to Create a More Accessible World for People with Blindness and Visual Impairments


Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility:
https://sighttechglobal.com/?mc_cid=0f086fc102&mc_eid=eb245f25da

December 7, 2023 | Streamline Accessibility Testing and Management with a Unified Platform | TPGi

8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 3PM GMT
Presenter: Charlie Pike, Platform Success Lead. There are many different types of analysis available for accessibility, from broad automated scans to user testing and time-intensive manual assessments. With ARC, TPGi's unified accessibility management and testing platform, you can put the proper analysis in the right hands, spreading the effort through your organization without losing effective oversight. This webinar will walk you through a sample accessibility program, demonstrating when and where to test and how to distribute work and knowledge. Who should attend: Accessibility professionals. Web developers and designers. Product managers:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-7-at-11am-et-streamline-accessibility-testing-and-management-with-a-unified-platform/

December 7, 2023 | The Oko Story | AYES.AI | 2023 Sight Tech Global Event

8:35 AM PT, 9:35 AM MT, 10:35 AM CT, 11:35 AM ET, 3:35 PM GMT
We're eager to share the oko story and our future plans in a webinar at Sight Tech Global on December 7th, from 8:35 AM to 9:00 AM PT. The webinar will include a live Q&A session, so feel free to ask us anything. If you haven't registered for our session yet, please do so using this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2OxZ4D4Ywa1ud5U7K4yxF6hYImVoBRPFtGKZK89pvXKrX7g/viewform

December 12, 2023 | Access Academy Part 4: The Monarch: Tactile Access to Digital Learning | APH

1:30PM PT, 2:30PM MT, 3:30PM CT, 4:30PM ET, 8:30PM GMT
This webinar is part four of the Tactile Graphics Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments: 4 Part Series. Join this webinar to learn about the skills and background knowledge a student requires to benefit from the use of a multi-line, graphics-capable, refreshable braille display like the Monarch.
https://www.aph.org/events/the-monarch-tactile-access-to-digital-learning/

December 12, 2023 | How to Perform Accessibility Testing (Part 2)

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenter: Aaron Farber, Senior Accessibility Platform Consultant. Does your organization (need to) perform manual accessibility testing on tens of applications? In this webinar, attendees learn how enterprise-level organizations dramatically reduce the level of effort and accessibility expertise required to perform manual audits. There are four fundamental steps to creating a world-class, enterprise-level internal accessibility team. Break down each of the WCAG Success Criteria into a set of smaller, easily repeatable tests. Automate as much of the work as possible, and clearly distinguish what requires manual testing. Develop solution templates to save testing teams from having to reinvent the wheel. Have the ability to generate multiple findings reports — suited for the different audiences involved in delivering an online experience. With these clear steps, teams, even those new to accessibility testing, can accurately and effectively carry out full-scale, full WCAG coverage audits. For large organizations, the challenge here is doing each of these steps requires significant investment. Until now. Learn how the Accessibility Resource Center brings your accessibility testing team to a world-class level and start performing manual accessibility audits faster:
https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-12-at-12pm-et-how-to-perform-accessibility-testing-part-2/

December 13, 2023 | Learn About The Hable One | A. T. Guys

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT
The Hable One is AT Guys' newest product that allows you to remotely control your smart phone with an easy to use interface. Use the Hable one as if you were using braille screen input in screen away mode. No need for a table to quickly enter text and control your phone. You can even wake your phone up with it still in your pocket! Discover the Hable One in AT Guys' upcoming free webinar, highlighting its simplified text entry, app navigation, and call management. Reserve your spot here:
https://www.atguys.com/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=24

December 13, 2023 | Internet Browsing with JAWS (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity

10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT
Are you interested in gaining a further understanding of web surfing with JAWS? Let's explore methods and strategies to enhance your browsing experience. We covered web browsing basics in a previous webinar. Now, we'll dive deeper. Join Ian Ramos and Marisa Church from Access Ingenuity to discuss webpage structure and how this can help the JAWS user better understand how to navigate by headings, forms, buttons, and regions to get the job done quickly. Learning Outcomes & Zoom Webinar Information: Discuss different elements of a webpage. Use Windows commands to navigate a webpage. Demonstrate the JAWS find command. Explore forms:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81286375149?pwd=ZkwzZm4wbVdxTUlGLzQxYWtHVzZiZz09&mc_cid=e69ad01a13&mc_eid=90429c1885#success

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

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM 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

February 20, 2023 through February 22, 2023 | Axe-Con 2024 | Deque Systems

Why attend axe-con? Building accessible digital experiences requires a team effort, across design, development, management, testing, accessibility experts, and of course, legal. Axe-con is the first of its kind, dedicating topics to each of these key players. This is not an assistive technology convention. Talks at axe-con will include case studies from enterprise companies leading in large-scale accessibility efforts, as well as best practices and updates from technology leaders around the world. Attendance of axe-con sessions can also be used towards continuing education (CE) towards IAAP certification. Topics of focus will include accessibility in development, accessibility in design, organizational success with accessibility, and a wildcard track. If you'd like to learn more about previous sessions and speakers, you can view last year's schedule here. Join us to learn how to build, test, monitor, and maintain digital accessibility:
https://www.deque.com/axe-con/register/

April 8, 2024 and April 9, 2023 | 24th Annual Multiple Perspective On Access, Inclusion & Disability Conference | The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio

To be on the mailing list for the conference, send email to:
ADA-OSU@osu.edu 📧️


➜ 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: 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.


Sponsor: WayAround


WayAround logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Save 15% on all WayAround Products on Cyber Monday! Use code Cyber15 during checkout at WayAround.com

WayAround is a smartphone-based labeling app that works with your preferred accessibility settings. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags ® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more. If you want to label something that's inside, outside, wet, dry, hot, or cold, there's a WayTag that will attach securely. WayTags come as stickers, buttons, magnets, and clips. Each of the different styles of WayTags work exactly the same. Simply choose the WayTag that's best for what you want to label.

➜ Label your kitchen, clothing, or medication.
➜ Tag specialty items and tools for hobbies.
➜ Organize lots of information about one thing on a single WayTag.
➜ Scan each WayTag 100,000 times or more.

Keep adding more WayTags! Use any style of tag, in any order. There's no limit to the number of WayTags you can use. So you can rely on one system to label all your things. Try our Starter Pack to experience ALL of the different types of WayTags!
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: December Gift of Accessibility: Scribe For Meetings Completely Free For All Until January 2nd, 2024!

Celebrate the Holidays with Inclusive Meetings! This holiday season, Pneuma Solutions is thrilled to announce a special gift for everyone: Scribe for Meetings is available for free throughout December! In the spirit of the holidays, we are dedicated to making meetings more inclusive and accessible, especially for those with visual impairments. Scribe for Meetings is an innovative cloud-based solution designed to make online meetings and webinars accessible to blind and low-vision participants. By integrating seamlessly with popular meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, it ensures that all participants can engage fully in the online experience. Our December Offer: Unprecedented Accessibility for Everyone! In an effort to spread holiday cheer and inclusivity, Scribe for Meetings is completely free for the entire month of December. This offer is open to businesses, organizations, and individuals, aiming to make every online meeting an inclusive and joyful experience.
https://scribeformeetings.com

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: Barrier Free Canada


Left: Barrier Free Canada Logo. Image of a light blue maple leaf with a white diagonal section of the leaf missing, giving the appearance of a circle with a line through it that bans what is on the inside. This maple leaf is intended to ban inaccessibility. To the right of the light blue maple leaf are the words, 'Barrier Free Canada' and 'Sans Barrieres Canada'. Right: A proud businesswoman in a wheelchair smiles into the camera while sitting in front of her team during a seminar. Empowerment through accessibility and inclusion concept.

➜ Classified Advertisement: The Crime Crusher Series Christmas Set #1: Episode #4: Santa's Secret Christmas Ring By Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

Robbie had not always been the same! He had been forced to change his ways and then! He had embarked on a very different path! Robbie Davos had become a man of very christian beliefs and one of them was that he firmly believed in giving back and giving to those who really needed it. Robbie would tell you that his life had been a very fulfilling one but there seemed to be something missing and he was determined to find it before he departed this world. Find out how he found it in a very unique way and what he did before he departed! Santa's Secret Christmas Ring! A fictional story of a mission fulfilled! Subscribe for free and write to me at donnajodhan@gmail.com 📧️:
https://youtu.be/Sg-Ny2FaNvs?si=flkqkri85-CicVVL

Sponsor Since: November 10, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://barrierfreecanada.org/ 🌐️

About: Barrier-Free Canada/Canada Sans Barrieres (BFC/CSB) advocates for the Canadian Parliament to enact a strong and effective Canadians with Disabilities Act (CDA) to achieve a barrier-free Canada for all persons with disabilities.

To this end, BFC/CSB is seeking endorsements from national disability organizations to build a non-partisan community coalition. BFC/CSB would also like to identify point persons from these organizations to act as key contacts.

The steering committee of BFC/CSB has drafted a set of principles concerning a CDA that are drawn from the principles that underpin the provincial disability legislation in Ontario and Manitoba. A CDA is not meant to replace provincial disability legislation. It will complement such legislation and benefit Canadians living in provinces with and without provincial disability legislation. At this point in time, CNIB, March of Dimes Canada, Canadian Hearing Society and MS Society of Canada have endorsed the BFC/CSB principles and confirmed their support for the movement to enact a CDA. There is no individual or organizational charge for membership in BFC/CSB.

Please contact Donna Jodhan, Founder of Barrier-Free Canada, at info@barrierfreecanada.org 📧️ with any questions or to express your organization's support and identify a key contact.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon (Search For: @news@mastodon.barrierfreecanada.org).


Sponsor: Vision Ireland


Vision Ireland logo next to an image of one person giving advise to another.

Sponsor Since: September 18th 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://vi.ie/ 🌐️

Phone: 1800 911 250 📱️

Make A Referral: https://vi.ie/supporting-you/make-a-referral/

We are happy to take referrals from anyone who is having significant challenges with their vision that cannot be improved with conventional correction glasses or medical treatment. Our online referral process provides a quick and easy way for you to request services, either for yourself, a family member, or a patient. We contact all new referrals to conduct an assessment.

Donate: https://vi.ie/supporting-us/donate-now/

Your support is Vital, for over 90 years, people like you have helped Vision Ireland make Ireland a better place for those who are blind or vision impaired.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ncbilabs 📹

We regularly deliver Technology Podcasts on topics that support you. Show content ranges from chats and debates about the latest Inclusive Tech, Meet the Team interviews, interviews with developers about their latest innovations, Tech Tips, and Seeing it Your Way interviews where we speak to Vision Ireland Service Users about how Technology has enabled them by breaking down barriers and leveling playing fields.

Online Store: https://vi.ie/shop-with-us/online-store/ 🛒

Shop Low Vision Aids. Our dedicated store supplies a range of household items, magnification aids, daily living aids, and technology devices all designed to assist you to live more independently. Check out our extensive range of low-vision aids, devices, and gadgets all designed to assist you in daily tasks.

Vision Ireland Retail: https://www.ncbi.ie/shop-with-us/retail-stores/shop-locations/ 🛒

Visit our 130+ Vision Ireland stores located across the country and shop for an extensive range of pre-loved quality clothing, accessories, and furniture. Vision Ireland is proud to play a part in promoting environmentally friendly practices through reusing and recycling. We've got something for everyone, you can transform your home and wardrobe for less while helping to fund our vital work around Ireland with people living with sight loss.

About: Formerly National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), Vision Ireland's mission is to enable people who are blind and vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.

Inspired by the determination to overcome any obstacle, Vision Ireland transforms the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired to deliver tangible change to today's needs. We offer timely information and support, relevant technology and innovative programs to sustain those with a vision impairment in education, in the workplace, and in wider society.

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland, the country's leading sight loss charity serving the approximate 55,000 people who are blind or vision impaired to live confidently and independently.

Our suite of programs provides practical and emotional support, rehabilitation and opening pathways to education, employment, and full participation in community and public life. It means raising awareness to ensure children and adults with a significant sight loss have the same opportunities, rights, and choices as anyone else in society.

Vision Ireland works every day across the country with people of all ages, from young babies through to older members of our community. We provide services to approximately 7,000 people each year.

Often when a person learns that they or a loved one — a parent, child or partner — is losing their sight, they have a lot of questions and fears. They are faced with a new version of their life — one that initially seems limited and scary. Vision Ireland empowers those living with sight loss in several meaningful ways to enable them to continue living independent and fulfilling lives. Vision Ireland has a crucial role to play in creating a world without barriers for people with sight loss. We want to support, educate and change how people see sight loss in this country.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube | Instagram


Sponsor: Hadley


A beautiful photograph of Hadley offices.

➜ Classified Advertisement: New NVDA Workshops at Hadley

Learn the basics of NVDA. From getting started with the program to customizing the speech to learning helpful shortcuts, Hadley's workshops have you covered.
https://hadley.edu/workshops/nvda-screen-reader-series

Sponsor Since: September 18th 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://hadleyhelps.org/ 🌐️

Email: info@hadleyhelps.org 📧️

Phone: (800) 323-4238 📱️

Get Started: https://hadleyhelps.org/learn 🎓

What would you like to learn today?

Donate: https://hadleyhelps.org/donate/support-hadley

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund its programs.

About: The mission of Hadley is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with vision loss or blindness to thrive — at home, at work, and in their communities.

Founded in 1920 by William Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life, Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who "get it." And you don't need to come to Hadley. Hadley's help comes to you; online, on the phone or through the mail.

Since relaunching in July 2020, more than 70,000 people have signed up with Hadley, registering more than 200,000 workshop interactions. And our workshops have 98% satisfaction ratings. We reach all 50 states and more than 100 countries. And more people learn braille from Hadley than from any other organization worldwide.

Hadley is a proud partner of the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program.

Hadley's help conveniently meets learners where they are. Free of wait lists. Free of office visits. Free of charge.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube


Sponsor: Eyes on Success


Eyes on Success logo. The logo is a black square with rounded corners and has the letters EOS in silver across the top with 4 silver lines fanning out downwards from the bottom of the O. Since the initials of the show's name (Eyes On Success) spell the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn (EOS), the logo was designed to give the impression of a sunrise which in turn provides a positive uplifting feeling in keeping with the theme of the show. We are grateful to our daughter Allison for the graphic design work.

Sponsor Since: August 21, 2023 Calendar icon.

Website: https://www.eyesonsuccess.net/ 🌐️

About: This half-hour weekly podcast and radio program discusses products, services and daily living tips for people with vision loss. It is available through radio reading services across North America, via several internet streaming services, and to everyone else as a podcast. To date, the show has been downloaded in all 50 states in the US and over 100 other countries on all the inhabited continents. Eyes On Success is hosted and produced by Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey.

Each episode is basically a success story. Some are human stories of visually impaired people's accomplishments in academics, employment, sports or pastimes. Others are descriptions of adaptive aids that enable visually impaired people to achieve things. These include screen readers, magnifiers, navigation aids, and others. In all cases, the focus is on success.

Eyes On Success has been airing weekly since January 2011. Prior to January 2013 the name of the show was ViewPoints. Other than the name, nothing has changed.

Listening To Eyes On Success

You can listen to Eyes On Success on your smart home device by saying “play the Eyes On Success podcast”, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, YouTube or your local radio reading service. Listeners can also follow the show on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).

Connecting with Eyes On Success

Email: To contact us with questions, comments or suggestions for future shows send an e-mail to hosts@EyesOnSuccess.net 📧️.

Weekly Announcements: If you would like to receive weekly announcements of upcoming episodes, you can join our low traffic "announcements only" list by sending an e-mail to: EyesOnSuccess+subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️.

Email Forum: If you would like to connect with other listeners and share your thoughts about what you've heard on the show, you can join our listener email forum by sending an email to: EOS_Discuss+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️


Sponsor: Total Tech Solutions, LLC


Total Tech Solutions, LLC logo.

➜ Classified Advertisement: Be My AI Fun

I apologize for poking fun at Be My AI, but I couldn't resist having a little bit of fun. Join us at:
https://tinyurl.com/WeSpeakLive

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: 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.


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 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled 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  6  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.

Payment Options: When available you can secure one of these packages for just $100.00 USD per month, $300 USD per quarter or $1,200.00 USD per year.

Payment Option Benefits: Monthly Sponsors receive Zero (0) Featured Advertisements. Quarterly Sponsors receive One (1) Featured Advertisement per quarter. Annual Sponsors receive Five (5) Featured Advertisements per year. All other benefits remain the same.


➜ Access Information News Supporters:

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

Spacer image. QR Code. Donate a one-time amount of your choosing to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News Publication.
Spacer image.

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:


Ornate Platinum Medallion.

Become an Access Information News Platinum Supporter today.

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

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

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


Gold Supporters:


Ornate Gold Medallion.

Become an Access Information News Gold Supporter today.

1.) Your name here.
Gold Supporter since ...


Silver Supporters:


Ornate Silver Medallion.

Become an Access Information News Silver Supporter today.

1.) Your name here.
Silver Supporter since ...


Bronze Supporters:


Ornate Bronze Medallion.

Become an Access Information News Bronze Supporter today.

1.) Your name here.
Bronze Supporter since ...

One Time Supporters:

One Time Supporters donate an amount of their choosing — one time to assist with the ongoing distribution of the Access Information News Publication.

Become an Access Information News One Time Supporter today.

1.) Sharyn Sobel
One Time Supporter on November 28, 2023

2.) Amanda Lee
One Time Supporter on July 31, 2023

3.) Your name here.
One Time Supporter on ...


➜ 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.

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

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 📧️
Subscribe: https://accessinformationnews.com/subscribe
Facebook: https://accessinformationnews.com/facebook
X (Formerly Twitter): https://accessinformationnews.com/x
LinkedIn: https://accessinformationnews.com/linkedin
RSS Feed: https://accessinformationnews.com/rss
Donate: https://accessinformationnews.com/donate
Sponsorship Information: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsor
Archive Search: https://accessinformationnews.com/search
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.

SUBSCRIBE:

Do you, a friend, or colleague wish to receive the Access Information Newsletter? If so, please use or pass along our CAPTCHA-free sign-up link, which is: https://accessinformationnews.com/subscribe. You can also subscribe to receive the Access Information Newsletter on the Access Information News Website at: https://accessinformationnews.com. Either of these methods will provide you with an accessibly friendly and secure medium through which you can subscribe to our mailing list. Just enter your email address, click send, and begin receiving the Access Information Newsletter. It's that easy.

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.

WEBSITE:

Visit the Access Information News website online at https://accessinformationnews.com.

FACEBOOK:

Are you on Facebook? Stop by and "Like" Access Information News to begin receiving current news and trends in access information as part of your Facebook News Feed: https://accessinformationnews.com/facebook.

X (FORMERLY TWITTER):

Are you on X? Follow Access Information News to begin receiving current news and trends in access information as part of your X News Feed: https://accessinformationnews.com/x.

MASTODON:

Are you on Mastodon? Follow Access Information News to begin receiving current news and trends in access information as part of your Mastodon News Feed by visiting https://mastodon.accessinformationnews.com/@news or searching for @news@mastodon.accessinformationnews.com on your server today.

LINKEDIN:

Are you on LinkedIn? Follow Access Information News to begin receiving current news and trends in access information as part of your LinkedIn News Feed: https://accessinformationnews.com/linkedin.

YOUTUBE:

Are you on YouTube? Follow Access Information News to begin receiving current news and trends in access information as part of your YouTube Video Feed: https://accessinformationnews.com/youtube.

RSS:

Do you prefer RSS? Follow Access Information News via RSS today to begin receiving current news and trends in access information using your choice of news aggregator: https://accessinformationnews.com/rss.

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.

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

A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication

1284 SOM Center Road, PMB 194
Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124
  Google Maps icon.
(855) 578-6660 📱️