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Access Information News for Monday, December 25, 2023 - Volume 942

The Week's News in Access Information

📰 🧑‍🦯 🦯 🦮 🧏 🦱 🧑‍🦽 🧑‍🦼 🦾 🦿

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

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This Week's Featured Advertisement: At This Time of Year Access Ready Wishes ...

Four pairs of feet wearing festive holiday socks of different designs and colors rest on a coffee table in front of a roaring fireplace which sits just next to a beautiful Christmas Tree. Lights top to bottom. Gifts all around. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Access Ready, Inc.

With one year ending and another beginning we have several wishes for all. We wish that the anger that now permeates society would evaporate and be replaced by kindness and civility. We wish the stress of just trying to do good in the world would be subsided by more support and cooperation. We wish that the freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear would become reality for all. We wish all a lovingly happy, and successful new year with the peace of God spreading around the world as an unstoppable force overcoming the moveable objects of strife and hate. We wish everyone peace and goodness for all time to come. — Access Ready


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.


Dear Access Information News Subscriber,

Submit your Access Information News Item for free here, with timing and placement determined by our editors. Submit a Sponsored News Item here, with timing and placement determined by you.


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

A.) Rainbow Smart Toothbrush | Easterseals Crossroads

Rainbow Smart Toothbrushes connect to Android or iOS devices via Bluetooth and help children learn the perfect brushing technique dentists recommend. They are manual toothbrushes that feature motion and 3D sensors that track brush positions and movements inside the mouth, while the app calculates variance and guides the brusher. The app allows parents to view their child's brushing habits, as well as how well they're doing the task::

B.) PBS Kids Creating New Series About Characters With Autism | Access Information News

PBS Kids is introducing "Carl the Collector," their first animated series featuring a lead character with autism, Carl, a raccoon who loves collecting things. Set in the diverse community of Fuzzytown, the show includes neurotypical and neurodiverse characters, aiming to foster acceptance and celebration of neurodiversity among children. Created by Zachariah OHora, the series involves neurodiverse and neurotypical professionals in its production. Targeting kids aged 4 to 8, "Carl the Collector" is praised for promoting inclusion, empathy, and social skills, and is set to debut on PBS Kids in Fall 2024.

C.) Meet The Twins Developing An Indoor Navigation App For The Visually Impaired — All While Navigating A New Life In NYC

Alp and Mert Kanibir, 17-year-old twin entrepreneurs and high school students, have been developing an indoor navigation system called NAVINDOOR for over a year. This project was inspired by a tragic accident in Turkey in March 2022, in which Alp lost his eyesight. Moving to New York for better opportunities and education, the twins joined a program by Virtual Enterprises to develop NAVINDOOR, designed to aid the visually impaired in indoor navigation. Their work gained attention, leading to collaborations with investors and entrepreneurs. The twins, who also play and study together, have presented their work at various events and plan to further develop NAVINDOOR in college. Alp aspires to be a lawyer and Mert a computer scientist, but their journey is as much about their shared dreams as it is about their brotherly bond and resilience.

D.) Selma Blair Just Dropped an Adaptive & Accessible Gift Guide for People With Disabilities | SheKnows.com

Selma Blair wants to help you shop with accessibility in mind this holiday season. The veteran actress and disability justice activist recently teamed up with QVC to curate an accessible gift guide. From adaptive clothing items to innovative kitchen gadgets, her picks are designed to make everyday tasks easier for people with disabilities.

E.) How To Use Linkedin In Your Job Search As A Person With A Disability | WSBlind.org

This article provides strategies for individuals with disabilities using LinkedIn for job searches. Key tips include fully completing the LinkedIn profile, using a professional head shot, utilizing the job search feature to find relevant opportunities, building connections with personalized notes, and joining LinkedIn groups for networking. These methods, especially useful for those who are blind or visually impaired, aim to enhance visibility and connections in the professional sphere.

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3) Premium Subscribers

Next Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 4th issue of the 60 Most Clicked News Articles for October, November and December 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 receive a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked News Articles of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month.

4) Sponsored News Items

Use Sponsored News Items to reach the access information community when you need to. Whether you are a current Sponsor or not. 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.

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7) Update To: An Open Letter To All Readers That Utilize A Text-Only Email Client: Changes Are Here: Everything You Need To Know | Aaron Di Blasi, Publisher | Access Information News | Top Tech Tidbits

Last week we announced that we would be transitioning the Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information Newsletters into a "pure HTML" format beginning with the December 25, 2023 issue of Access Information News, and the December 28, 2023 issue of Top Tech Tidbits. Within this initial update we described exactly "how" we would be changing the format of each news item, and why. Well, things have changed since this announcement. With some additional input from readers, format priorities have been re-ordered. This updated announcement now reflects the current and future format of both the Access Information News and Top Tech Tidbits weekly newsletters.

8) Stark's 2023 Accessibility Year in Review

2023 was dominated by talk of AI, superconductors, and rapidly progressing technology. Meanwhile, accessibility was accelerating right along with us. Let's review:

9) Braille Drawing of a Frilly Christmas Tree | Paths To Literacy

This braille design is a fun way to practice braille skills. This is really fun to touch and draw with its own special rhythm you will pick up on and have a lot of fun with. Uses an 8-1/2 by 11-inch green construction paper or heavyweight braille paper, in portrait configuration, 17 lines total and the remainder can be used for a holiday greeting. The ar sign = (dots 3-4-5) and gh sign = (dots 1-2-6):

10) Download Over 900 eBooks of Classics Free from StandardEbooks | OSXDaily.com

David Goldfield (Tech-VI List): There are other sources for public domain books. The largest source for public domain material is the Internet Archive, which contains books, audio including old time radio and other works in the public domain. The Internet Archive can be difficult to navigate but the site is accessible and is well worth your time. The Online Books Page is another site worth perusing with over three million free titles. Project Gutenberg is perhaps the most well-known site for public domain books offering 70000 titles. Librivox offers free public domain audio books narrated by human volunteers.
OSX Daily: If you're interested in doing some reading of the classics, you may appreciate the Standard Ebooks project, which offers free high quality ebooks that are well-formatted, proofread, and professionally designed using style manuals.

11) Screen Reader Accessibility: Event Ticket Troubles | Michael Taylor | Usable.net

In this post, I will be continuing with my new accessibility narration series, in which I take the reader through a set of interactions I have with a website, documenting both positive and negative accessibility. The goal is to show how the topics I have discussed in the past affect real-world experiences. I recently learned that one of my favorite rock bands plays two concerts in my area in December.

12) 2023 Digital Accessibility Year in Review | Sarah Lavery | TPGi

Digital accessibility is always evolving. In 2023, we saw sweeping changes that could alter the landscape entirely, and smaller, albeit equally as change-inducing, moves and trends. This isn't an exhaustive list, if that would even be possible. Read about some of the most significant changes, findings, and trends that shaped digital accessibility in 2023 and beyond.

13) How Alexa — And AbilityNet — Are Helping Older Users Feel More Connected | Robin Christopherson | AbilityNet.org UK

Loneliness and isolation among older adults are pressing issues. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, half a million older people in the UK go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone. For those aged 85 and over (and 38% of those aged 75 to 84) living alone is a stark reality. In England alone, an estimated 1.4 million chronically lonely older people seek connection and companionship. Technology can be a lifeline, bridging the gap and connecting seniors to essential services. During the pandemic, organizations distributed tablets and devices to older populations, helping them stay in touch with loved ones. But what about voice assistants? How can they play a role in combating loneliness?

14) The Top Accessibility Errors Found in 2023 | Sarah Lavery | TPGi

TPGi's accessibility experts have been busy this year, identifying thousands of accessibility errors through manual and automated testing. From all those results, the following 10 issues were the most commonly found by our ARC automation tools. We hope this list helps guide your team to avoid some of this year's most common barriers. Cheers to another year of making things accessible!

15) 'This Is A Business Process': Improving Accessibility For Neurodiverse, Visually Impaired Audiences | PRDaily.com

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International internal communications lead talks about how to meet unique audiences where they are.

16) What the Quest Lawsuit Means for Kiosk Accessibility | Thomas Logan | Equal Entry

Quest Diagnostics offers laboratory services. At a doctor's request, patients visit a Quest location for blood draws and other lab procedures. The company installed digital self-service touchscreen kiosks in its locations. These kiosks allow patients to check in for an appointment. The American Council for the Blind (ACB) filed a class action lawsuit against Quest Diagnostics for creating an inaccessible touchscreen kiosk experience. The ACB press release explains these kiosks prevent blind and low-vision patients from equal access to Quests's services. ACB believes these kiosks are inaccessible and don't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

17) Click Here. Er... Click Where, Exactly? | Access By Design UK

Have you ever found yourself staring at a webpage, scratching your head, wondering, "Click here? Click where?" You're not alone; it's like the universal link mystery phrase.

18) Statement From the European Commission Regarding Accessibility Overlays

Web accessibility overlays, often employing JavaScript, aim to enhance website accessibility, with some using AI to claim compliance with standards like the EU's EN 301 549, referencing WCAG 2.1 AA. However, automatic compliance detection is limited to about 30% of WCAG criteria, making full automation unrealistic. These tools may also impede existing assistive technologies, potentially reducing accessibility. Separate from overlays are widgets like ATbar and UI Options, which allow user customization without claiming to solve accessibility issues. Both categories, however, cannot replace manual accessibility efforts. Consequently, DG COMM does not endorse any overlay tools or widgets for website accessibility.

19) Recognizing Coins With Artificial Intelligence | BlindCoinCollector.com

An overview on how artificial intelligence opens a new chapter in coin recognition for a totally blind person.

20) CNIB's New Charter Aims To Create A More Inclusive Society For The Visually Impaired | CapitalCurrent.ca

The CNIB recently released "A New Way Forward," with three aims: increase understanding and awareness of the blind and visually impaired community; make journeys more accessible by eliminating barriers in public transport — from getting on the bus to finding the sidewalk and supporting children with visual impairments in and out of the classroom.

21) Digital Inaccessibility: Blind And Low-Vision People Have Powerful Technology But Still Face Barriers To The Digital World | TheConversation.com

The article discusses challenges faced by the visually impaired with digital accessibility, especially in employment. Despite advanced assistive technologies like screen readers, inaccessible digital content, including online job applications and company software, remains a significant barrier. In the U.S., of the 8 million people with blindness or low vision, only about half of the working-age population is employed. The article highlights a study on assistive technology use in the workplace, indicating satisfaction but also significant challenges. Legal frameworks like the ADA address digital accessibility, but most online content still lacks full accessibility. Standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines aim to improve this. The article suggests integrating accessibility into digital development from the start and cites Microsoft's efforts in promoting accessible digital documents. It concludes that accessible digital environments can significantly boost employment for those with visual impairments.

22) My Christmas Day Wishes — Hopes, Dream, Wishes And A Better Future For Our Kids | Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

Peace to all! May this world find a way to share and spread peace, love, joy, kindness, generosity, goodwill, and to protect the future of our innocent kids!

23) Screen Reader Struggles: Navigating Restaurant Reservations | UsableNet.com

Many restaurants, both local spots and national chains, allow customers to reserve a table online. I recently tried to make a reservation at a popular restaurant in my area but, unfortunately, had a poor experience in terms of accessibility and usability. I will narrate the reservation process in this blog, highlighting positive and negative design characteristics. The goal is to illustrate how the accessibility points I have discussed affect real-world browsing experiences. Like always, my focus will be screen reader accessibility.

24) Disabled People Deserve Equity Even When They Aren't The 'Right' Kind Of Disabled | Emma Park | Medium

I hate small talk. Always have done. If we're not talking about something that will take an idea from point A to point B, then what's the point? I do, however, do a very good impression of someone who enjoys small talk, when I have to. If I have the sense that it's beneficial for someone else if I bear talking about the weather for a bit — or my weekend, perhaps, and all the times I chose not to go outside — then I can do that.

25) A Beginner's Guide To Litigating A Web Accessibility | December 18, 2023 | Ken Nakata | Converge Accessibility

This is a blog post I've been meaning to put together for a long time. At Converge Accessibility, we get contacted by a lot of attorneys (mostly defense but sometimes a plaintiff attorney here and there) and it's amazing to see the costly rookie mistakes that they are making. If you're new to this area, I'd suggest you start here. This post includes my quick thoughts on a Sunday afternoon but I hope to return to this post with other thoughts as time goes on.

26) Shifting Left To Get Accessibility Right At Microsoft | Microsoft.com

Microsoft's "shifting left" strategy emphasizes early integration of accessibility in software development. Central to this is their open-source tool, Accessibility Insights, which allows developers to detect and address accessibility issues at the initial stages. This approach, advocated by Patrice Pelland and Nandita Gupta, leads to significant time and cost savings, estimated at 2,000 development hours over six months. It also educates developers on accessibility, fostering a culture of inclusivity in software creation. The tool's adoption extends beyond Microsoft, benefiting various industries due to its open-source availability.


➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and Events


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.

December 28, 2023 | Get Started with WayAround Webinar | Michael Doise & Jessica Hipp

11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT
If WayAround is on your holiday wishlist, this is your chance to learn how to use your WayTags! Attendees will learn how to get started making your things permanently accessible! If you've already been using WayAround, join us to discuss how you can tag even more things. This is also a great opportunity to gear up for any New Year's organization projects. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

December 28, 2023 | Zoom Meeting Regarding Accessibility And Requirements To Be A Blind Voice Writing Court Reporter | Eden Kizer

5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM, 12/29 GMT
Hello. My name is Eden Kizer, and I'm a recently certified court reporter using the voice writing method. This method involves using our voice to dictate everything that is being said in court or depositions. I am providing an informal Zoom meeting to discuss how a blind person using JAWS can work in this field: things such as equipment, skills, accessibility factors, and any questions. This career can also be used to do very quick transcription as the certification means that you can take down with your voice at 225 words per minute. The Zoom meeting takes place on December 28th at 8 P.M. Pacific. I will send out a Zoom link, but I require you to request to join the meeting via email as I do not want to publicly share a Zoom link. Meeting will be recorded. Please go ahead and email your interest and questions because the meeting will be provided to attendees who email me even if they can't come live. Contact Eden Kizer.

January 3, 2024 | ParentConnect: A Family Support Group Offered In Partnership With The Virtual Parent Support Group Chicago Lighthouse For The Blind | APH ConnectCenter

4:30PM PT, 5:30PM MT, 6:30PM CT, 7:30PM ET, 11:30PM GMT
APH FamilyConnect and the Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families. No ACVREP or professional development credits will be available.

January 6, 2024 | Echo Tips & HIMS SensePlayer | Technology User Group

7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT
The Technology User Group (TUG) is delighted to welcome two presenters to our inaugural Zoom Meeting. First up will be David Ward from the Echo Tips podcast, who will be discussing tips and tricks for your Echo device. Following this performance will be Christina Nixon to highlight the many attributes of the HIMS SensePlayer. Who should attend this meeting? Anyone who has an Echo device or is thinking about acquiring one. Those seeking knowledge about the Alexa environment and who are interested in knowing the platform's capabilities. Those individuals who are looking for an affordable, portable digital book player. People who would like to compare the attributes of pocket size book players. The presentation will be virtual and will last about 60 minutes. You do not have to RSVP for this event. This program will begin at 10 a.m. and will be recorded. Call in Number: +1 (301) 715-8592 📱️ | Meeting ID: 656 203 7293#.

January 11, 2024 | Career Conversations: An Interview With Claire Stanley, Public Policy Analyst For National Disability Rights Network | APH ConnectCenter

3PM PT, 4PM MT, 5PM CT, 6PM ET, 10PM GMT
Join APH CareerConnect for our very popular Career Conversations Series. Claire Stanley, J.D., Public Policy Analyst for National Disability Rights Network, will speak about her work in public policy. Often, people think of having a degree in law and going to court as a lawyer. Claire, uses her voice to influence public policy related to disability issues on the national level. Claire will share her journey from college into her current career working on public policy.

January 17, 2023 | Creating Accessible and Inclusive Presentations | A11yTalks.com

9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
In this session, we'll go over what we can do as presenters to ensure inclusivity for all our attendees regardless of how they consume the content, beyond the basics of captions and color contrast. We'll briefly cover accessibility definitions, standards, and guidelines and then share practical tips and examples to help make presentation slide decks and the presentations more accessible.

January 17, 2023 | PixBlaster: Enhancing Braille and Graphics with TSS 8.1 | APH ConnectCenter

1PM PT, 2PM MT, 3PM CT, 4PM ET, 8PM GMT
In the next version, Tiger Software Suite 8.1 is set to boost PixBlaster's braille and tactile graphic output. Catch ViewPlus CEO Dan Gardner at the January Partner Showcase, where he'll walk you through the updates and delve into the advantages for braille and tactile graphic production. Register below for PixBlaster: Enhancing Braille and Graphics with TSS 8.1.

February 20, 2024 through February 22, 2024 | 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.

April 8, 2024 and April 9, 2024 | 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


➜ Sponsor Classified Ads


Sponsor: Total Tech Solutions, LLC


Total Tech Solutions, LLC logo.

Classified Advertisement: Be My AI Fun | Total Tech Solutions, LLC

I apologize for poking fun at Be My AI, but I couldn't resist having a little bit of fun. Join us.

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


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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 | 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.


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Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Seeks Your Support at the Public Policy Level | Access Ready, Inc.

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.

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 | Access Ready, Inc.

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.

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 | Access Ready, Inc.

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.

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! | APH ConnectCenter

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.

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 10% On All Waytags @ Wayaround.Com With Coupon Code "joy10" Through December 20, 2023 | Wayaround

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! There's no limit to the number of WayTags you can use. So you can rely on one system to label all your things.

Save 10% on any order of WayTags at WayAround.com. Enter "joy10" at checkout. WayLink Scanner is not eligible. Ends 12/20/2023.

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: RIMFest Is In Full Force, And There's Free Admission! Provide Accessible Remote Support With Remote Incident Manager Completely Free Of Charge Until January 2nd. Lock In Unlimited Weekend Support For $50! | Pneuma Solutions

In the spirit of the holiday season, we proudly offer all users of Remote Incident Manager (RIM) all the time you want, when you want it, from now until January 2nd, 2024! During this time, you will have access to all features and functionalities of the Remote Incident Manager, giving you an excellent opportunity to make the most out of the world's only fully accessible remote support application! There's never been a better time to get in on the action!

Simply download your copy to your PC or Mac today, click the “Provide Help Now” button, register, and the free access is yours!

But Wait, There's More!

During this twelve day event, you can cash in on an opportunity to ring in the new year with more unlimited RIM time! Back by popular demand, our weekend support package can once again be yours for a discounted annual rate of $50!

Whatever you do, we at Pneuma Solutions wish all of you the happiest of holidays, and many fulfilling hours of accessible remote technical support!

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 #2: Episode #12: Santa's Gifts To Girls And Boys By Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna Jodhan

Santa has always wanted to make sure that all girls and boys receive gifts that they really need and desire. It's not just about toys and technology! It's about so much more at this time of the year! Santa calls an emergency meeting of family, friends, elves, and reindeer. However, he has to hold this meeting in great secrecy because he has discovered that some folks out there are planning and hoping to stop this meeting. These folks are determined to stop Santa from achieving his goals but of course, Santa wins in the end but not without having to come up with ways to thwart his enemies! Find out what Santa and friends need to do in order to accomplish this great mission. Subscribe for free and write to me at: donnajodhan@gmail.com 📧️.

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 | 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.

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 📧️



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.

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:

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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:


Become an Access Information News Platinum Supporter today.

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Platinum Supporter Since: December 5, 2022

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Platinum Supporter Since: March 24, 2023

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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

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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

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

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

Website | Email | Subscribe (Free) | Subscribe (Premium) | Donate | Sponsor | Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon | LinkedIn | YouTube | RSS | Search | Archive | Publisher


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

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

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

Website | Email | Subscribe (Free) | Subscribe (Premium) | Donate | Sponsor | Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon | LinkedIn | YouTube | RSS | Search | Archive | Publisher


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

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

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

Website | Email | Subscribe (Free) | Subscribe (Premium) | Donate | Sponsor | Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon | LinkedIn | YouTube | RSS | Search | Archive | Publisher


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

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

National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor (1990 - Present)
Vision Australia 🌐️

Website | Email | Subscribe (Free) | Subscribe (Premium) | Donate | Sponsor | Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon | LinkedIn | YouTube | RSS | Search | Archive | Publisher


➜ Subscription Information


ABOUT:

Founded in 2022, 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 most recent issues here. 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. 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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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. You can also subscribe to receive the Access Information Newsletter on the Access Information News Website. 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.

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Access Information News Premium Subscribers receive additional benefits throughout the year, in addition to supporting upgrades to the Access Information News Publication. Please consider joining us today! Premium Subscribers make new feature requests possible.

SPONSOR:

If you would like to become 1 of only 18 Access Information News Sponsors whose ongoing support makes the distribution of Access Information News possible, we offer you the following advertising benefits, with our sincerest thanks, and most heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support.

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If you would like to become an Access Information News Supporter by making a small 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 support.

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QUESTIONS:

News article abstracts are intentionally concise. As a result we know that some readers may not always understand all of the items listed because little explanation is given. If a particular news article brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and we will try to answer as time and knowledge permit.

ARCHIVE

Read the most recently released issues of Access Information News online here. Visit the Access Information News Archive online here, where you can grab back issues.

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Any information for future issues of Access Information News may be submitted online via our News Item Submission Form or directed to our Editors via email.

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

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