Access Information News for Monday, June 3, 2024 - Volume 965
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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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked News Articles From Last Week
"The next product is Blindsight," Musk explained, "which will enable people who have lost both eyes or have no eyesight whatsoever to see... and this is directly interfacing with the optical processing areas of the brain." This groundbreaking technology," he added, "could potentially "address almost any brain or spine injury."
Companies hoping to transform daily life for DeafBlind Americans came to Long Island to show off cutting-edge technology.
Last August, I wrote an opinion piece for influential tech industry news site The Register, highlighting a significant issue affecting 250 million people worldwide: the lack of support for non-standard speech in Apple's voice recognition technology. Professional microphone set upThis challenge is faced by individuals with acquired or progressive conditions such as cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease, those recovering from strokes, and my own condition, muscular dystrophy.
Mobility challenges can significantly impact an individual's ability to navigate daily life, especially for the elderly and those with physical disabilities. Mobility aids are essential for many, providing the necessary support to enhance personal independence and mobility. Among these aids, portable mobility scooters have gained considerable popularity, offering a blend of convenience, independence, and accessibility that traditional aids cannot match. This article explores the comprehensive benefits and key features of portable mobility scooters and provides guidance on selecting the right model to meet individual needs.
According to Google, users will be able to access what it described as "more detailed walking instructions" while navigating to places. With Google Lens and its screen-reading capability, people will be able to hear the name and categories of places around them — Google used ATMs and restaurants as examples — and know how far away they are from getting there.
June 3, 2024
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Publisher (Di Blasi): This year Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. has donated one Annual Sponsorship Package with Top Tech Tidbits ($1200 USD) and one Annual Sponsorship Package with Access Information News ($1200 USD) to the Seeing Eye's 2024 95th Anniversary Gala and Online Auction. Win a free year of weekly access-specific website traffic, permanent SEO benefits and global brand recognition. Let's work together to make this year's event special. The Seeing Eye, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization: Federal ID: 22-1539721.
SeeingEye.org: Proceeds from this annual event go directly toward fulfilling our mission to nurture the partnership between specially trained Seeing Eye ® dogs and people with vision loss. The online auction is made possible by generous individuals and businesses who donate items for bidding. Not only will you be supporting our mission, but you will also be showcasing your products and services to thousands of our supporters! The online bidding runs from May 30 through June 11, 2024, and when the auction is live it will be hosted at https://seeingeye.org/auction. Each item listing will include a detailed description, photographs, your company's logo, and a direct link to your webpage. Auction items range from jewelry, gift cards, dog toys, sports tickets, vacation stays and more! For additional information or to donate item(s), please contact us at: +1 (973) 525-1088 📱️ or auction@seeingeye.org 📧️.
June 2, 2024
Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app designed to aid the blind and visually impaired, has launched its award-winning application on Windows desktop, available now on the Microsoft Store. Announced at Microsoft's Build Week in Seattle, this expansion brings the Be My AI feature from their successful Android and iOS apps to personal computers, offering users unparalleled visual descriptions and accessibility. Leveraging OpenAI's GPT-4 with Vision model, the app provides detailed descriptions of photos, graphs, screenshots, and other visual content, revolutionizing desktop use for those with vision impairments.
June 1, 2024
Recently, we have seen significant movement in Federal policy on web and digital accessibility. Specifically, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is enforced by the Department of Justice, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as implemented by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), now include specific accessibility requirements for websites, mobile apps, and kiosks (more on kiosks later). They both include specific standards, implementation timelines, and some notable exceptions. These two updates represent a huge step forward in protecting the civil rights of individuals who require digital accessibility.
May 31, 2024
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is pursuing a case against an employer the agency says fired a new employee for not disclosing her low vision disability in her job interview. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from soliciting information about a job applicant's disability prior to a job offer, according to the federal agency.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 16% of the world's population has a disability—which means apps and websites must integrate special features like speech recognition, screen magnification, the right color contrasts and much more. The 2023-2024 State of Digital Accessibility Report by Level Access found that almost 72% of enterprises already have a digital accessibility policy in place, while 85% see it as a competitive advantage. One way to validate accessibility is to focus on accessibility testing. This can ensure everyone is able to use the app/website, including folks with visual, audio, physical, neurological and cognitive issues.
My final thoughts? This is another blatant example of a company that has not given any consideration to meeting the needs of blind and vision impaired customers! Or maybe they decided that blind and vision impaired customers do not exist! Just my two cents for today.
May 30, 2024
One industry that undoubtedly experiences increased business during the warm weather months is hotels and hospitality. Many people visit hotel websites as they try to plan that perfect summer vacation. In this blog, I will discuss some of the most common accessibility challenges on hotel websites. The difference is that I will examine this topic area from a mobile device-focused lens. In other words, I will discuss accessibility issues related to touch-based screen readers on portable devices. In preparation for this blog, I explored a variety of hotel websites on my tablet. The following narrative will reflect my findings. I would like to note that these issues can also affect mobile apps because they are often the direct ports of a mobile website.
There has been a lot of accessibility news this month including Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event that encourages everyone to learn and share best practices for digital accessibility and inclusion. And to think it all started with a blog post and a phone call. I had the privilege of talking with the co-founders of GAAD, Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion, about the origin of GAAD and the potential of AI for accessibility and the disability community.
I'm a totally blind attorney writing this on a standard Windows laptop. I use Braille and accessible technology to coordinate a nationwide legal program in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. I'm conversant in five languages, have lost count of the number of countries I've visited, and independently manage a household. And earlier today, I still needed sighted help to fill out a government form.
Bricks for the Blind has just had its status as a not-for-profit organization officially confirmed. To celebrate and thanks to a large, anonymous donation, it's also launched a new website with a library or more than 100 free text-based LEGO building instructions, designed to empower blind and visually impaired people to be able to build LEGO sets more easily.
May 29, 2024
Costa Rica has focused on becoming an inclusive destination where everyone can enjoy the natural wonders the country has to offer. However, the country still has a long way to go and must make many changes. Tori Hunter, a Canadian influencer, published a video recounting her ordeal upon landing at Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. She shared the video on her Instagram account on May 16, World Accessibility Awareness Day, because she felt it was an appropriate time to highlight what happened to her when she disembarked at the Liberian air terminal.
How can we bring about meaningful change for better disability inclusion in the social investment sector? Salma Perveen from the Diversity Forum has asked experts with lived experience to set out some guiding first steps.
May 28, 2024
How the process of making prosthetic eyes has — and hasn't — changed in nearly a century.
In a press release, Comcast NBCUniversal and 2Gether-International (2GI) announced on Tuesday the extension of their partnership that sees the former funneling over $1.5 million to the latter to sustain its work into 2025. The money will help "equip disabled startup founders with the tools and resources they need for their companies to be leaders in their respective industries" in addition to "[furthering] 2GI's efforts to recruit and serve more people specifically with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout all their programs and initiatives."
In short: A staff member in Parliament House had a seizure after their requests for lighting changes were not acted on. A review of access in Parliament House heard from staff who said the building's design was prioritized over their safety. What's next: The department is facing questions on the issue in Senate estimates.
If you're like most people, there are parts of the year 2020 you'd like to forget — you know, the weeks and months when the world ground to a stop. The appearance and subsequent spread of the COVID-19 virus upended the lives of everyone around the globe.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced that the T will receive $67.6 million to upgrade 14 Green Line stops on the B and C branches to provide accessibility upgrades and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Transit agencies in New York City and New Jersey are receiving more than $200 million in total federal funding to improve accessibility at select rail stations.
In short: Alana Tiller and Matt De Gruchy live with vision impairments, and say it has shaped their life in a positive way. They say there's often assumptions they want to be 'cured', which is not the case. What's next? Advocates are calling for greater awareness of what it is like to live with vision impairments and for the avoidance of stereotyping.
Lead author Hilary Brown from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences says people with disabilities have been overlooked in reproductive health care because of societal assumptions that they won't have children.
I'd like to say it started in my early 50's when I could no longer hear the ding of the triangle in one of my favorite Queen songs. But if you ask my husband and family, they would say my challenges with hearing started much earlier. Frequently asking, “What?” had become a habit, as was turning up the volume on the TV. My father had hearing loss, which he ignored for many years, and I, too, was in denial. I kept thinking I would get my hearing checked someday, but it was not that bad.
May 27, 2024
The Disability Access Service (DAS) is a program at Disney World and Disneyland that allows guests to wait out their time in line without actually waiting in most of the line. This virtual waiting system is available to guests who cannot wait in a conventional queue for a long time. In this article we'll cover the how-to of the application process at Disney World so that you can be prepared.
Molly Watt, 29, who has Usher Syndrome which is a genetic disorder that affects hearing, balance and vision, won Best Content Creator of the Year. The category is supported by Netflix and the award acknowledges someone who uses social media to break down barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people and galvanize support for a social issue.
Last Week
A guide horse trainer has been found! The blind and visually impaired can now experience the freedom of a guide horse! Navigate streets with ease. Enjoy enhanced stability and support. Gain a lifelong companion. Meet the perfect guide: Falabella horses, known for intelligence, calmness, and ideal size. Ready for independence. Contact trainer Holly Fisher (chromedcamo@gmail.com 📧️) at Fisher's Farrier Services to request your own guide horse, and learn more! Sponsor a Guide Horse & Change a Life! Help us provide life-changing companions. Sponsor training and empower the visually impaired.
Hashtags are words or phrases with the # symbol at the start. They are used in social media posts to indicate the topic of the post, and they make it easier for people interested in that topic to discover relevant posts.
The disability community has reached its tipping point, and our representatives should pay attention because they could be the most undervalued voting bloc in our country this election.
I am always searching for innovative solutions to enhance the independence of visually impaired individuals. One such solution that has captured my attention many years ago was Touch Mapper, a service that allows the printing of local maps based on addresses. These tactile maps, designed for blind and visually impaired people, show roads, buildings, and bodies of water, with data sourced from OpenStreetMap. With my new 3D printer, it was finally time to put it to a test.
About 1 in 9 children in the U.S., between the ages of 3 and 17, have been diagnosed with ADHD. That's according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder an "expanding public health concern."
The International Paralympic Committee wants to close the perception gap and make this the most-watched Games ever.
An accessibility overlay (or accessibility widget) is one of those wee icon-only buttons you sometimes see floating over a web page; usually in the bottom-right corner. When you press them, they give you a bunch of options to make the website 'more accessible'.
➜ Featured Events
7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT
On Saturday, June 8th, the Technology User Group (TUG) is pleased to welcome Dr. Amy Bower, who will showcase her research with ocean currents. Dr. Bower is a senior scientist studying physical oceanography at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. She has been chasing ocean currents in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans for over 25 years, primarily by releasing acoustically tracked floats far below the sea surface. Legally blind since her mid-20s, Dr. Bower uses adaptive technology to continue her research.
Proceeds from this annual event go directly toward fulfilling our mission to nurture the partnership between specially trained Seeing Eye ® dogs and people with vision loss. The online auction is made possible by generous individuals and businesses who donate items for bidding. Not only will you be supporting our mission, but you will also be showcasing your products and services to thousands of our supporters! The online bidding runs from May 30, 2024 through June 11, 2024, and when the auction is live it will be hosted at https://seeingeye.org/auction. Each item listing will include a detailed description, photographs, your company's logo, and a direct link to your webpage. Auction items range from jewelry, gift cards, dog toys, sports tickets, vacation stays and more! For additional information or to donate item(s), please contact us at (973) 525-1088 📱️ or auction@seeingeye.org 📧️. Item donations should be received no later than April 12, 2024 and should be addressed to: The Seeing Eye Auction Team, 1 Seeing Eye Way, Morristown, NJ 07960. Thank you for your consideration.
4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT
Technology opens the world and broadens options. Today a person with a disability can use technology to look for a job, apply for a position and retain a job. This webinar highlights assistive technologies which allow a person with a disability to better direct and manage their career exploration and development. Learn about the assistive technologies which can be used to write and format a resume, submit a job application online, develop questions for an interview and much more. Join two managers from the Lighthouse as they share information about assistive technologies used in looking for work. ASL Interpreters will be available. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Please reach out to WorkForceDevelopment@lhblind.org 📧️ if you have questions.
9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Join us for the first annual Blindness and Mental Health Summit! The Summit is the largest online gathering of organizations and consumers sharing information, resources, and services focusing on mental health in the blindness, low vision, and disability communities. It is 100% virtual and will have ASL interpreters. Providers will also be able to earn CE credit.
9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT
Presenter: Leilani Mason, Solutions Engineer. Older adults are a growing demographic of technology users. As society shifts more online, the need for older adults to use technology is increasing rapidly. When designing products, it is important to design with accessibility in mind but also design with different age groups in mind.
➜ Directories
➜ Sponsor Classified Ads
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 📅️
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.
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 📅️
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.
Purchase a 25-pack of any style of WayTag and get a free Sampler Pack so you can try all seven different WayTags. Enter the coupon code SAMPLE at checkout and the Sampler Pack will automatically be added to your cart. This is a $14.99 value! Limit one Sample pack per order.
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.
Sponsor Since: November 18th 2022 📅️
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&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1
Our first of its kind Remote Incident Manager has long since prided itself on providing unmatched remote desktop accessibility across both Windows and Mac. As we approach the anniversary of the Mac OS port of RIM's big reveal, we celebrate with present-day improvements! Among the many new features - voice conversations during unattended sessions (with target user consent), ability to install without admin on Windows, etc. one of our most exciting features for Mac support pros is the ability to view a list of running packages and installed apps on the target Mac! The excitement doesn't stop there, however. Remember our weekend support package? The price hasn't changed, but the unlimited weekend support time that comes with the package just saw an increase! Current and future weekend support subscribers can now provide unlimited support from 7:00 PM (according to local timezone) until 11:59 PM on Sunday! There's never been a better time to get in on the action!
Sponsor Since: November 7th 2022 📅️
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.
Are you ready to take your digital experience to new heights? Look no further! I am Donna Jodhan, an esteemed Accessibility Consultant, Tester, and Advisor with a wealth of lived experience, knowledge, and skills.
Sponsor Since: November 10, 2023 📅️
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 Since: September 18th 2023 📅️
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
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 📅️
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 Since: August 21, 2023 📅️
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 📧️
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 📅️
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.
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 📅️
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 Since: Today 📅️
Website: https://accessinformationnews.com/dearsponsor 🌐️
Phone: (855) 578-6660 📱️
Email: news@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
About: Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 25,000 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 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.
In addition, all Access Information News Supporters automatically become Premium Subscribers as well, and therefore enjoy all of the benefits that a Premium Subscription has to offer.
One Time Donation: If you would like to become a 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 a 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.
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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➜ Access Information News Team
Distribution Since: 2022
As of November 7, 2022 the distribution of Access Information News is made possible by our Sponsors, our Supporters and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced marketing administration and consultation services.
Any time the Access Information News Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.
Please help us to support the ongoing distribution of this publication. Learn more today at: https://accessinformationnews.com/dearsponsor.
Volunteer Publisher Since: November 7, 2022
Location: Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)
In addition to serving as Publisher for Access Information News Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits 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 Editor to Access Information News.
Aaron Di Blasi, PMP
Email: publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
Toll-Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️
Publisher (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week's News in Artificial Intelligence
Publisher (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information
Publisher (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology
Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 - Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
Certified:
Digital Marketing Associate
Meta Certified (2022 - Present)
Social Marketing Professional
Hootsuite Certified (2020 - Present)
Email Marketing Professional
Constant Contact Certified (2019 - Present)
Specializing in:
Digital Strategy and Content Marketing
Social Media Advertising
Online Fundraising
ADA, WCAG and Section 508 Compliance
Volunteer Editor Since: November 7, 2022
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News, John also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits 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.
Volunteer Editor Since: November 7, 2022
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News, Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits 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.
Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: February 6, 2023
Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News, David also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication and is also the National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor for Vision Australia where he has worked since 1990. Over this time he has assisted people who are blind or vision impaired in their home, education, and work settings to take advantage of the benefits of using assistive and main stream technology.
David's regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions.
David Woodbridge
X (Formerly Twitter): @dwoodbridge
Mastodon: woody@dragonscave.space
iSee Podcast: https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com
Vision Australia Radio Talking Tech: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
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 🌐
Live the life you choose. We're here to support all Australians who are blind or have low vision.
Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: January 9, 2024
Location: Benton City, WA
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News and Top Tech Tidbits, Vicki works as a Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Vicki Walton
Editorial Contributor (2024-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week's News in Access Information
Editorial Contributor (2024-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week's News in Access Technology
Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges 🌐
Better Jobs, Brighter Futures, a Stronger Washington
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