High Percentage of Gov't Websites Fail Security, and Accessibility Tests - 2017 Study Findings

Nov. 27, 2017- At least 91 percent of the most popular U.S. government websites are failing to perform in at least one key metric, including page load speed, user friendliness and security, according to a report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

article by By Ray Downs for United Press International (UPI)                                                        
The ITIF report analyzed 500 government websites for its latest report. Two of the metrics looked at were desktop page-load speed and mobile page-load speed. Of the 500 websites, 63 percent of websites passed the test in desktop page-load speed, while only 27 percent passed the test for mobile page-load speed.

With almost three-quarters of government websites having slow mobile page-load speeds, navigating those sites is also a problem with only 61 percent of websites are mobile friendly, according to the report. Security is still a concern for some government websites, with only 71 percent passing the Secure Sockets Layer certificates test. However, that was a 4 percent improvement from the previous test conducted by ITIF.

"As more people go online for public services and as security threats continue to evolve, it is important for federal websites to be more convenient, accessible, and secure," ITIF research fellow Galia Nurko told FCW Magazine. "This report shows a significant amount of work left to be done to modernize federal websites and ensure that, as technology advances, federal websites improve in turn."

The ITIF report also found that 40 percent of government websites weren't accessible to people with disabilities.

"Issues with accessibility range from poor contrast on websites to a lack of labels, which may prevent the website from being easily navigated by someone using a screen reader, assistive technology commonly used by individuals who are blind," the report said.

To improve website security and use, ITIF recommended the federal government launch a website modernization sprint to fix known problems; require federal websites to meet basic desktop and mobile page-load speeds; launch a website consolidation initiative; require all federal agencies to report website analytics; appoint a federal CIO to lead federal IT modernization efforts; and encourage nonexecutive agencies and branches of government to adopt federal website standards and practices.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/11/27/Study-finds-high-percentage-of-govt-websites-fail-security-accessibility-tests/2601511840535/

Nationwide Class Action Challenges Hulu’s Discrimination against Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals

Boston, Massachusetts—November 20, 2017—A coalition of blind and visually impaired individuals and advocacy groups filed a nationwide class action today against Hulu to end the video streaming company’s ongoing exclusion of blind and visually impaired Americans. The lawsuit—filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts—challenges Hulu’s violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hulu, one of the largest online-streaming services in the country, offers thousands of shows and movies, including award-winning original content, to most customers at the click of a mouse. However, the company fails to provide audio description—a separate audio track that blind and visually impaired people need in order to access the exclusively visual content of a show or movie—for any streaming videos.

Because Hulu fails to include audio description tracks on any of its streaming content, blind and visually impaired individuals cannot independently enjoy Hulu’s video streaming services. Audio description is a separate audio track that, when activated, provides a verbal description of visual elements on screen, especially in scenes with no dialogue. The audio description track plays between pauses in dialogue. Hulu boasts an extensive library of live TV and on-demand movies and series—including its Emmy-award winning original series, “The Handmaid’s Tale”—but currently excludes customers who are blind and visually impaired.

In addition, Hulu’s website and applications are not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals who use screen readers to navigate the internet. A screen reader is software that converts the visually displayed content on the screen into audible, synthesized speech or outputs that information on a digital braille display.

The American Council of the Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind, and blind individuals brought this action to end Hulu’s discriminatory business practices. Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a national nonprofit legal center, and the Disability Law Center (DLC), Massachusetts’s Protection and Advocacy system, represent these individuals and organizations.

Kim Charlson, President of the American Council of the Blind, said, “Movies and television are pillars of American culture. As delivery of such media transitions to video streaming services, it is critical that these platforms be accessible in order to ensure the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals in contemporary society.”

Rebecca Williford, Senior Staff Attorney at DRA, said, “Hulu is owned by a collection of some of the most powerful companies in the entertainment business and is itself one of the nation’s most popular online streaming services. Its utter failure to provide access to individuals who are blind and visually impaired is astonishing.”

“BSCB members have been expressing their concerns about Hulu’s lack of audio description for years now,” said Brian Charlson, President of Bay State Council of the Blind, “and it is time that Hulu join with other industry streaming services out there and meet its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

“As forms of entertainment evolve, equal access must transition to meet industry innovation. Equal access means the ability to fully use and enjoy all aspects of entertainment, just like everyone else,” said Christine Griffin, Executive Director of DLC.

Plaintiffs do not seek monetary damages, but seek only to achieve equal access to Hulu’s services.

A copy of the Complaint can be found HERE (pdf).

About Disability Rights Advocates (DRA)
Founded in 1993, DRA is a leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center. Its mission is to advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities nationwide. DRA represents people with the full spectrum of disabilities in complex, system-changing, class action cases. DRA’s prior cases advocating for accessible entertainment include Blanks v. AMC Theaters (2017) (reaching a settlement to improve audio description in AMC theaters nationwide), and negotiations with Netflix in 2016 that resulted in a settlement to provide audio description for Netflix’s streaming and disc rental libraries, including “Netflix Originals.” For more information, visit www.dralegal.org.

About Disability Law Center (DLC)
The DLC is the Protection and Advocacy system for Massachusetts and is authorized under federal law to protect and advocate for the legal rights of individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts. DLC worked with Bay State Council of the Blind in a series of negotiations with Fleet Bank, Sovereign Bank, and Citizens Bank to ensure that their ATMs, websites, and other banking services were fully accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit www.dlc-ma.org.

About American Council of the Blind (ACB)
ACB works to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all people who are blind or visually impaired. ACB advocates for policies that provide services, opportunities, infrastructure, and equipment that are necessary for an inclusive society, in federal, state, and local governments, and among service providers and industry. For more information, visit www.acb.org.

About Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB)
BSCB is a membership organization of blind, visually impaired, and sighted individuals committed to an enhanced quality of life for Massachusetts’ residents who are blind or visually impaired. BSCB convenes meetings and conferences, organizes recreation activities, provides publications, radio programs, and information, and advocates for services and legislation that improve access for people who are blind. For more information, visit www.acbofma.org.

source: Disability Rights Advocates press release

PEAT Blog Explores Accessible Technology Awareness Building

At large companies, some of the most challenging aspects of managing an accessibility program relate to enterprise-wide awareness and adoption. Getting thousands of employees to understand accessible technology basics and integrate an accessibility mindset into their day-to-day work is no easy task. This type of systemic change can require an entire cultural shift. During a recent PEAT Talk, Capital One(link is external) Senior Manager of Accessibility Mark Penicook shared some of their experiences in implementing a range of internal efforts to promote widespread awareness of accessibility standards and best practices.

Taking Accessibility to the Bank

Mark leads Capital One’s Digital Accessibility Team. This team works with the company’s designers, software engineers, managers, and product owners to ensure that all the company’s web, mobile, and messaging applications are usable by everyone, including those with disabilities.

Five years ago, when Mark and his team set out to promote accessibility within Capital One, they faced a key challenge: most colleagues they spoke with simply weren’t aware of accessibility in the first place. Even those familiar with the term often only understood it in the context of making physical spaces accessible. The Digital Accessibility Team knew they had their work cut out for them and ramped up their awareness-building efforts to educate their colleagues about digital accessibility.

Soon they encountered their next challenge: integrating accessibility into the early stages of the product design process. “The right way to accomplish accessibility without it feeling like an overwhelming additional burden,” Mark explained, “is not to bolt this on to the end of the process or try to correct things at the last minute.” Mark and his team promoted the benefits of earlier integration and better partnerships, but they still weren’t always recognized by other teams within Capital One. They encountered pushback from those who viewed accessibility as a difficult, complex task. Meanwhile, other teams expressed feelings that they didn’t have the expertise, time, or capacity to make accessibility fixes.   

Creative Messaging Approaches

Mark and his team decided the next step was to educate everyone at Capital One that a dedicated team was available to assist them. They created a logo, stickers, and other branding materials to spread the word among their 40,000 associates across the globe. They also developed a video showcasing the accessibility experiences of three people with disabilities. The end product was highly successful, and this video is now a part almost every presentation that his team does, including their annual computer-based job training.

Mark also saw an opportunity to reach new Capital One employees during their onboarding orientations. Because new hires are given so much information during orientation, Mark’s team focused on making their presentation concise, memorable, and interactive. For example, one Digital Accessibility Team member who plays guitar asked participants what accessibility means to them in one word, and then used those words to make up a song that he sang on the spot.

The Capital One Digital Accessibility Team works hard to foster and maintain partnerships throughout the company, not just because it’s good for business, but also because of their belief that it’s the right thing to do. And as Mark reflected, “if we do well at accessibility, we're almost guaranteed to have a better product, a better design, a better code base, a more usable interface or interaction for literally everyone.”

Learn more about Capital One’s digital accessibility awareness initiatives by checking out the archived PEAT Talk. And in the comments, please let us know how your business is working to promote the importance of digital accessibility company-wide.

source: Peat blog post

Recent PEAT Blog Posts

• PEAT Talks Recap: Strategies to Drive Awareness and Engagement at a Large Enterprise
  November 8, 2017
• 7 Principles of Inclusive Design That Put People First
  October 23, 2017
• PEAT Talks Recap: How and Why to Make VPATs a Priority
  October 17, 2017
• Accessible Technology and the Employment Lifecycle
  October 4, 2017
• PEAT Talks Recap: Making Tech Fields Accessible
  September 14, 2017

Visually Impaired Finding Help in The Classroom with Assistive Technology

Students with vision problems now have a number of tools at their disposal to help keep up in the classroom, they just need to be implemented correctly.

article by by Kenny Walter for R&D MAGAZINE | Nov. 15, 2017                                              
Luis Perez, a Florida-based digital accessibility consultant, said in an interview with R&D Magazine that the tools are available and affordable for school districts, but more work needs to be done to ensure that educators are properly trained to effectively use the platforms.

“There is definitely more work that needs to be done, I think there has been a slow transition from those who work with students with visual impairment,” Perez said. “I think more professional development is needed, more awareness.”

“My experience has been that educators are not always aware of what’s available and also there is still the misconception that you have to buy additional software,” he added. “It can’t just be providing the tools, there needs to be ongoing professional development. It has to go hand-in-hand, providing the access to the tools, but also providing the training and support to get the most out of it.”

Perez, who also suffers from a visual impairment, regularly visits school districts and higher education institutions to advocate for assistive technology for not only visually-impaired students, but also for students with other disabilities. His hope is that the technology can help improve the learning experience for everyone.

He said one constant is that while educators may have the technology available to help students with disabilities, they are not always properly trained on the full capabilities of the technology.

For example, when interactive whiteboards first started appearing in the classroom, Perez said the teachers were often untrained on all the features and possibilities of the technology.

Perez has been an advocate for Universal Design for Learning—an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences.

He also said one advancement that has led to cost-savings for school districts is the advent of text-to-speech technology available in many platforms and tools.

Text-to-speech enables a computer to convert written text and read it aloud. According to Perez, the tool is now available for a number of different applications designed to help students with visual impairments, as well as students with dyslexia and students who are not native English speakers.

Perez said that many computers and tablets now have text-to-speech options built in as a standard option.

“Because I have some vision left I still rely on text-to-speech quite a bit, just to give my vision a rest,” he said.

Other features Perez has mentioned as being beneficial include text enlargement options, Google voice typing and other screen readers that can be customized to an individual student.

According to Perez, one of the challenges is that there will always be different needs for different individuals with disabilities.

“It depends on the person and the need, that will determine the tool that is the best,” Perez said. “It is always important to match that need and what the tool can do.”

“Each individual visually-impaired student is different, there is a broad range from those like myself who still have some vision to those who are completely blind,” he added.

Perez said one of his jobs as an advocate for the technology is to work with developers of improving and creating new tools for disabled students.

He said he works with both big companies like Microsoft or Apple and independent developers looking to create their own applications.

While there are issues in implementing the technology and ensuring that it is used correctly and to its full potential, Perez said advancements in the future will continue.

“I think we will continue in the direction of even more universal design,” he said. “I think the move to mobile devices kind of encourages that because on a mobile device you are not only sitting in a nicely lit, comfortable environment, you are often accessing content on the go.”

https://www.rdmag.com/article/2017/11/assistive-technology-helpful-classroom-visually-impaired

U.S. Access Board Webinar: Looking Ahead – "Frontier Accessibility Issues" (December 7th)

The next webinar in the U.S. Access Board's free monthly series will take place December 7 from 2:30 – 4:00 (ET) and will review new design trends, products, and technologies that impact or advance accessibility for people with disabilities. Examples include mobility devices used on commercial airlines, inclusive exercise equipment, adult changing tables, autonomous vehicles, and wayfinding technologies.

 Register for the webinar  www.accessibilityonline.org 

Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the webinar. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions or comments on specific technologies and trends in advance.

Webinar attendees can earn continuing education credits. The webinar series is hosted by the ADA National Network in cooperation with the Board. Archived copies of previous Board webinars are available on the site.

Source: United States Access Board

State of Illinois Grants To Help People with Sight Disabilities Hear The News

People with sight disabilities in Illinois could soon gain access to news radio technology.

To provide if qualified, the 295,000 Illinoisans who have vision issues with equipment that will allow them to keep up to date with news. Sideband receivers will allow these people to tune into radio stations where volunteers ready daily news from newspapers in the state. Special-frequency radios are required to hear these broadcasts.

Some Illinoisans already have access to the program, which can be accessed using a password-protected Internet stream. Click here for more information about the grant.

Directory of Illinois Radio Information Service Organizations
Augustana Public Radio Information Service (APRIS)
Augustana College
639 38th St.
Rock Island, IL 61201
309−794−7500
Augustana Public Radio Information Service Website

Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS Radio)
1850 West Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL 60608-1298
312−666−1331
Chicagoland Radio Information Service Website

Illinois Radio Reader (WILL)
University of Illinois
300 N. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
217−333−7300
Illinois Radio Reader (WILL) Website

Lewis and Clark Radio Information Service (WLCA)
Lewis and Clark Community College
5800 Godfrey Rd.
Godfrey, IL 62035
618−468−4940
WLCA Website

Minds Eye Information Service
9541 Church Circle Drive
Belleville, IL 62223
618−394−6442
Minds Eye Information Service Website

Northern Illinois Radio Information Service (NIRIS) Studios
DeKalb Office
801 N. First St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815−753−9000
Northern Illinois Radio Information Service Website

Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (WSIU)
Southern Illinois University
1003 South Oakland
SIUC Mailcode 6531
Carbondale, IL 62901
618−453−2808
Southern Illinois Radio Information Service Website

Tri-States Audio Information (WIUM/WIUW)
Western Illinois University
504 University Services Building
Macomb, IL 61455
309−298−2403
Tri-States Audio Information (WIUM/WIUW) Website

Wabash Valley College Radio Information Service
Wabash Valley College
2200 College Dr.
Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
618−262−8641
Wabash Valley College Radio Information Service Website

WCBU Radio Information Service
Bradley University
1501 W. Bradley Ave.
Peoria IL 61625
309−677−3585
WCBU Radio Information Service

WUIS-WIPA Radio Information Service
University of Illinois at Springfield
P.O. Box 19243
Springfield, IL 62703-5407
217−206−6404
WUIS-WIPA Radio Information Service Website

Webinar: Web Content Accessibility Guideline Resources (November 28)

The next U.S. Access Board webinar in the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series will take place November 28 from 1:00 to 2:30 (ET) and review available resources explaining the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. Issued by the W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), WCAG 2.0 is a globally recognized, technology-neutral standard for accessible web content. The U.S. Access Board's updated Section 508 Standards reference WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria Level A and AA and apply them to web-based content and to other electronic content. This session will cover various technical assistance materials issued by the W3C's WAI to support use of the WCAG 2.0, including a customizable reference guide and guidance on developing conformant web content.

For more details or to register for this or other webinars in the free series, visit www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/schedule.

The Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series provides helpful information and best practices for federal agencies in meeting their obligations under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which ensures access to information and communication technology in the federal sector. This webinar series is made available by the Accessibility Community of Practice of the CIO Council in partnership with the Access Board.

Section 508 Best Practices: W3C WCAG 2.0 Resources   
November 28, 2017, 1:00 - 2:30 (ET)
Presenters:
 • Bruce Bailey, IT Accessibility Specialist, U.S. Access Board
 • Judy Brewer, Director of W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative
 • Timothy Creagan, Senior Accessibility Specialist, U.S. Access Board (moderator) 

Registration: https://www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/session/?id=110616

source: United States Access Board

GSA Interagency Forum on Section 508 Standards on Accessibility Information Communication Technology (ICT)

	David Capozzi

Oct. 17, 2017 - The General Services Administration (GSA) held an interagency forum on accessibility to information and communication technology (ICT) on October 13 at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The full-day event focused on the refreshed Section 508 Standards issued by the U.S. Access Board in January which apply to ICT procured, developed, maintained, or used by federal agencies. The Access Board and several other agencies partnered with GSA in conducting the event, including the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Homeland Security. It attracted over 350 attendees from government, industry, and advocacy.

The day started off with welcoming remarks from Dominic Sale, Deputy Associate Administrator for GSA's Office of Information, Integrity & Access and a keynote address by Access Board Executive Director David Capozzi.

"Although section 508 only applies to the federal government, its impact has been felt in state governments, the private sector, and around the world," Capozzi noted. "Last year, the U.S. government spent about $80 billion on ICT; when you can harness that purchasing power to drive accessibility, progress is bound to happen."

Capozzi recounted the history of Section 508 and called attention to its global effects. "The European Union now has a new set of ICT accessibility standards – modeled after our updated section 508 standards; Australia is using public procurement to drive accessible technology; and, Canada is developing a new law that will address public procurement of ICT as well," he stated. "The world is paying attention to what we do here."

The forum featured a series of workshops organized into tracks on ICT development, agency policy, and the revised 508 Standards. Representatives from the Access Board and other agencies conducted the sessions which addressed different aspects of Section 508 and the standards, including major changes in the updated standards, how the standards apply to federal acquisitions, IT development contracts and the IT lifecycle, revisions to federal agency Section 508 policies, testing methods and other topics. The event also provided an opportunity to publicize new tools and resources, including a "Toolkit" on the revised 508 standards developed by an interagency transition team and the Information Technology Industry Council's recent release of an updated Voluntary Product Accessibility Template which businesses can use to document product conformance with the revised standards.

For further information on the Section 508 Standards, visit the U.S. Access Board's website and GSA's section508.gov website. 

source: United States Access Board

Guidance on Purchasing Accessible Technology for Your Workplace

Implementing accessible technology in your workplace means buying accessible tech in the first place. Just in time for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology has launched “Buy IT!: Your Guide for Purchasing Accessible Technology.” This free online resource helps employers and their resource purchasing staff build accessibility and usability into their information technology (IT) procurement processes. 

Featuring background and sample language, Buy IT! offers step-by-step guidance on researching IT vendors, specifying accessibility requirements in your RFPs, and validating the accessibility of your product choices. As such, it addresses a crucial step in reducing the technology-related barriers facing many employees, job seekers, and customers with disabilities by helping businesses buy and implement technology that works for everyone.

• Access “Buy IT!: Your Guide for Purchasing Accessible Technology”

ODEP to Host Online Dialogue on Autonomous (driverless) Vehicles — October 10 through October 20, 2017

As autonomous vehicle (AV) technology continues its rapid progression to mainstream use, it is important to recognize the potential such technology has for reducing transportation and employment barriers for Americans with disabilities. 

From October 10 through October 20, U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) will be hosting an online dialogue with Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) to gather ideas on how AVs can best serve to increase workplace participation for the disability community. Participants are invited to vote on ideas, expand upon them, and brainstorm new ones. ODEP and SAFE will use the results of this dialogue to develop resources and materials to enhance understanding of AV technology and how it can be of use to people with disabilities as they seek stable and long-term employment.

• Learn more about the AVs: Driving Employment for People with Disabilities Online Dialogue

• Register to join the conversation on October 10

  

Developing autonomous vehicles and the transportation system of the future to be universally accessible has technological and economic challenges. What is required to ensure that AVs are accessible to everyone?

MORE DETAILS

Dementia Patients finding 'Google Street View' technology

In 2007, Google sent out the first fleet of cars armed with cameras to map the world. Who could have guessed that a decade later, a researcher, biomechanical engineer Anne-Christine Hertz would use Street View technology to help dementia patients remember.

Anne-Christine was trying to develop new methods to treat Alzheimer’s patients and those suffering from dementia. Specifically, she wanted to help them preserve old memories. Memory loss is one of the most traumatic side effects of dementia, both for patients and their loved ones.

To combat this, she built a prototype called BikeAround, which pairs a stationary bike with Google Street View to take dementia patients on a virtual ride down memory lane. Patients input a street address of a place that means something to them - a childhood home for instance - and then use the pedals and handlebars to “bike around” their old neighborhoods.

For much more on information on "Google Street View" technology: CLICK HERE
source: Google

YouTube published by Google

Trump's Justice Dept Place's Web Accessibility on "Inactive" List

The Trump Administration’s first Unified Agenda reveals DOJ has placed web accessibility, medical equipment, and furniture rulemakings under Title II and III of the ADA on Inactive List.

Federal agencies typically provide public notice of the regulations that are under development twice a year in the Unified Regulatory Agenda. The first Agenda the Trump Administration issued, which went online July 20, 2017, contains some very noteworthy changes from the last such Agenda, issued by the Obama Administration.

For the first time, the Agenda breaks down all agency regulatory actions into three categories: active, long-term, or inactive. While the Agenda does not define these terms, it appears that only the active and long-term matters receive a description and projected deadlines. The inactive matters appear on a PDF document under a link called “2017 Inactive Actions”.

The Agenda places the Department of Justice’s rulemakings under Titles II and III of the ADA for websites, medical equipment, and furniture of public accommodations and state and local governments on this 2017 Inactive Actions list, with no further information. Thus, as we had predicted, there will be no regulations about public accommodations or state and local government websites for the foreseeable future.

In the absence of website regulations, the courts are filling the void with a patchwork of decisions that often conflict with one another. The uncertain legal landscape has fueled a surge of lawsuits and demand letters filed and sent on behalf of individuals with disabilities alleging that the websites of thousands of public accommodations are not accessible.

The placement of the website and all other pending ADA Title III rulemaking activities (medical equipment and furniture) on the Inactive list is part of the Administration’s larger effort to reduce the number of regulations in development.  The Administration touted the following accomplishments on the Agenda’s homepage:

• Agencies withdrew 469 actions that had been proposed in the Fall 2016 Agenda;
• Agencies reconsidered 391 active actions by reclassifying them as long-term (282) and inactive (109), allowing for further careful review;
• Economically significant regulations fell to 58 – about 50 percent fewer than Fall 2016;
• For the first time, agencies will post and make public their list of “inactive” rules.

Seyfarth Synopsis: By Minh Vu on July 21, 2017

Seyfarth’s ADA Title III team consists of attorneys with extensive experience in ADA Title III litigation located in many offices across the United States, including California where plaintiffs are most active. With additional litigators admitted to practice in virtually every jurisdiction in the country, we have the resources to defend our clients against lawsuits and investigations on a nationwide basis and provide consistent and efficient service in national engagements. We have successfully defended against or resolved hundreds of lawsuits brought under Title III of the ADA and applicable state laws.

http://www.adatitleiii.com/2017/07/doj-places-website-rulemaking-on-the-inactive-list/

Google Maps Accessibility Keeps on Rollin with Wheelchair Users App

July 18, 2017 - A new feature in Google Maps for Android (and Google Search results) lets you scan one of 7 million map locations for that information, or add those details if you know them and Google doesn't.

Google has just made it easier to know what kind of accessible doorways, elevators, parking and seating you're going to get when you arrive.

How to find accessibility info in Google Maps

• Search for the location on Google Maps (Android, desktop) or in Google Search (mobile)
• Open the listing
• Tap the description
• Scroll to accessibility section

How to add accessibility info to Google Maps (on Android)

• In Google Maps, open the main menu
• Tap "Your contributions"
• Tap "Uncover missing info"
• Sort by "Accessibility"
• Start adding missing info

You can also add accessibility info for a specific location from the accessibility section on any location listing (see above). Tap "Know what features this place has?" to add your own feedback.

# # #

RELATED POSTS:

Google Maps is Now Wheelchair-Friendly with Access Features 

Microsoft’s New App Tells Visually Impaired People What’s in Front of Them

July 13, 2017 - Seeing AI combines the phone’s camera and artificial intelligence to identify places, objects and people. The app then announces what it sees so people who are blind or visually impaired will know what is in front of them.

article by CAROLYN NICANDER MOHR for The Wonder of Tech! / JULY 13, 2017
Using the app, people can hear a description of what is in front of them. The app’s interpretation of what it’s seeing is quite sophisticated, it can recognize emotions. It won’t just say that someone is smiling, it will tell you the person is happy. Or surprised. Or angry.

Users can take Seeing AI shopping. The app can read barcodes so people can know whether a can is soup or dog food. It will also soon be able to identify currency so users know whether they are handing over a bill that’s worth $20 versus $1.

Diners at restaurants can use Seeing AI to read menus. The app can read both food choices and prices.

Pedestrians can use the app to read signs and get directions, though the app warns against using it for navigation.

One of the more impressive features of Seeing AI is a document scanner. The app can read documents aloud and even help the user center the document on the screen.

The app looks for the edges of the document so it knows that it’s reading the entire text. After all, a user could get into trouble if the word “not” were cut off in the margins.

The app can also identify images in other apps. When you are using another app, tap the Share icon and choose “Recognize with Seeing AI.” The app can identify what is in the images as if it were a scene in front of you.

Read Full Article >> CLICK

The below video from Microsoft shows what Seeing AI can do:

YouTube published by Microsoft July 12, 2017

source: The Wonder of Tech https://www.wonderoftech.com/microsoft-seeing-ai/

Section 508 Best Practices Webinar (July 25): Revised Section 508 Chapter 4 - Technology Hardware

The next webinar in the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series will take place July 25 from 1:00 to 2:30 (ET) and review requirements for hardware, including mobile devices, in the updated Section 508 Standards that the U.S. Access Board published in January. Presenters will cover requirements for operable parts, technologies with two-way voice communication, devices with display screens, closed caption and audio description processing technologies, closed functionality, and privacy, among others.

For more details or to register for this or other webinars in the free series, visit www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/schedule.

The Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series provides helpful information and best practices for federal agencies in meeting their obligations under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which ensures access to information and communication technology in the federal sector. This webinar series is made available by the Accessibility Community of Practice of the CIO Council in partnership with the Access Board.

Section 508 Best Practices: Revised Section 508 Chapter 4 - HardwareJuly 25, 2017, 1:00- 2:30 (ET)    
Presenters:
 • Bruce Bailey, IT Specialist, U.S. Access Board
 • Timothy Creagan, Senior Accessibility Specialist, U.S. Access Board
 • Deborah Kaplan, Section 508 Policy Lead, Office of the CIO, HHS (moderator) 

Registration: https://www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/session/?id=110614

source: United States Access Board

Managed Care Programs Must Comply With Modern Online Accessibility Standards, Effective July 1, 2017

PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 28, 2017 -- The Bureau of Internet Accessibility reports that effective July 1, 2017, new Medicaid rules will require managed care programs to have digital information in compliance with modern accessibility standards. The goal of the new requirement is to make information provided online accessible to those with disabilities. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility has long established itself as an expert-level resource available to help these organizations assess and establish digital compliance.

The new Medicaid rule will require entities providing managed care programs to provide information in a format that is "readily accessible," which it defines to mean electronic information and services which comply with modern accessibility standards such as W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA and successor versions. The definition provided aims to be clearer, reflect technology advances, and align with guidelines and requirements.

The WCAG 2.0 AA requirements include providing text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be translated into large print, braille, speech, symbols, or simpler language. It also requires website owners to make it easier for users to see and hear content by separating foreground from background, among other changes. Additionally, website owners should make all functionality accessible using only keyboard inputs, make text content readable and understandable to web navigation tools, make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways, and maximize compatibility with assistive technologies.

The Bureau of Internet Accessibility understands these often-confusing new requirements under WCAG 2.0 AA and has partnered with many organizations to assess and achieve compliance. Each client is assigned a dedicated client manager who manages all aspects of the project and provides the personalized attention that clients need to navigate the requirements and changes needed while maintaining the website's original functionality.

"It can be challenging for many organizations to aim to make their websites and digital communications ADA compliant and accessible, but we are experts in this work and are with our clients every step of the way," says Mark Shapiro, President of the Bureau of Internet Accessibility. "We have many services and tools available for our clients as we help them navigate these complex requirements, identify accessibility failures, and offer tailored remediation advice."

For more information about the organization's accessibility audits and to learn if a website is compliant, visit BoIA.org.

About the Bureau of Internet Accessibility
The Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BoIA) has been helping eliminate the accessibility digital divide since 2001. The organization's reports, tools, and services have assisted businesses in improving, maintaining, and proving the accessibility of their websites. With services that include self-help tools, audits, training, remediation and implementation support, BoIA has the experience and expertise to ensure that accessibility efforts are worthwhile and successful. For more information, visit BoIA.org.

SOURCE Bureau of Internet AccessibilityThe Bureau of Internet Accessibility has been helping organizations achieve, maintain and prove digital compliance since 2001. http://www.boia.org

ADA Class Action Suit says Brookstone Website Is Not ADA Compliant

June 22, 2017 - Brookstone was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the retailer’s website is not accessible to blind customers in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Lead plaintiff, New York resident Victor Andrews, alleges in his class action lawsuit that Brookstone.com is difficult, if not impossible for those with vision impairments to access.

The plaintiff claims that the website is full of access barriers that exclude blind customers, including the plaintiff, from even completing a transaction online.

Brookstone is a retail store that sells fitness equipment, games, toys, and gifts. According to the class action, Brookstone’s website, Brookstone.com, offers the same retail goods for sale and offers home and store delivery, along with store information and policies.

According to the Brookstone class action, “[t]he blind access websites by using keyboards in conjunction with screen-reading software which vocalizes visual information on a computer screen. Except for a blind person whose residual vision is still sufficient to use magnification, screen access software provides the only method by which a blind person can independently access the Internet. Unless websites are designed to allow for use in this manner, blind persons are unable to fully access Internet websites and the information, products and services contained therein.”

Over the years, well-established guidelines for making websites accessible to the blind have been followed by big companies, but, the plaintiff alleges, “[d]espite readily available accessible technology, such as the technology in use at other heavily trafficked retail websites, which makes use of alternative text, accessible forms, descriptive links, resizable text and limits the usage of tables and JavaScript, [Brookstone] has chosen to rely on an exclusively visual interface.”

The plaintiff contends that it is not fair and in violation of the ADA for blind individuals to need to rely on sighted companions to access Brookstone’s online shopping site. “Many blind people enjoy online shopping just as sighted people do,” alleges the complaint. “The lack of an accessible website means that blind people are excluded from the rapidly expanding self-service retail economy and from independently accessing Brookstone.com.”

According to the Brookstone class action lawsuit, both the federally mandated regulations found in the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as New York human rights and civil rights laws require businesses to “ensure access to goods, services and facilities by making reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.”

The plaintiff is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to require Brookstone to utilize technology on their retail website to allow blind individuals independent access. Additionally, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for discrimination.

The plaintiff is also seeking to represent a nationwide Class of legally blind individuals who have attempted to access Brookstone.com, as well as a New York subclass.

Andrews is represented by C.K. Lee and Anne Seelig of Lee Litigation Group PLLC.

The Brookstone ADA Class Action Lawsuit is Victor Andrews v. Brookstone Company Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-03733, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

article by Christina Davis for Top Class Actions  News (great resource for Class Action Lawsuits)

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/756255-brookstone-class-action-says-website-isnt-ada-compliant/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=627%20New%20Subs&utm_content=627%20New%20Subs+CID_0bb541f91f95157fd832a668b43e9db9&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Brookstone%20Class%20Action%20Says%20Website%20Isnt%20ADA%20Compliant

Court Rules Retailer's Websites Must Comply with Americans with Disabilities Act

A court decision in Florida could have major consequences for retailers everywhere, forcing them to equip their websites with technology that makes them accessible to disabled individuals.

article by Tim Feran for The Columbus Dispatch | June 22, 2017                                                           
  

Last week, a federal judge in Florida found that the website of Winn-Dixie — the second largest supermarket chain in the Southeast — violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because it was inaccessible to visually impaired individuals.

The decision is significant because retailers might be required to equip their websites with technology that is compatible with ADA standards, including refreshable Braille displays or devices that read website content aloud, said attorney Mark Knueve, a partner with Columbus-based Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease.

Knueve was not involved in the case but has been tracking it because he represents employers in complex employment litigation matters.

Making the situation even more complicated and difficult for retailers is the fact that “the ADA itself does not actually address whether or not websites would be covered by access requirements,” Knueve said.

During the Obama administration, the Department of Justice issued several statements indicating that the ADA did apply to websites, and said it would issue regulations to that effect. But the department never got around to doing so.

“So, as of right now, there are no formal regulations or law on this,” Knueve said. “That leaves it for the courts.”

The problem comes at a difficult time for retailers who, faced with declining sales in stores, have spent years pouring money into their digital operations to better serve customers as well as stave off competition from such online retailers as Amazon.

Several local retailers would not comment on the issue. But at least one retailer is confident that it has the problem licked.

An L Brands spokeswoman said the Columbus-based retailer’s websites, including Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, are all ADA compliant.

Even so, the issue has come up more and more frequently for clients of digital-marketing agency Mindstream Interactive, said Scott Curtis, associate vice president of technology at the Columbus-based agency.

“I don’t know that it’s hit a point where everyone’s in a panic mode, but everyone has it in mind,” Curtis said. “We do have guidelines but it’s highly complex. How far do you go? Some of our clients are very into accessibility and they want to go full bore and do everything. But some websites are built in a certain way so that it doesn’t really translate into the accessible world.”

Those retailers who aren’t already compliant with ADA rules face several problems.

One is that because the law is unclear, “it gives rise to litigation because employers don’t know what standard to comply with,” Knueve said. “No matter what you do, someone will come along and say, ‘Oh, that isn’t the standard.’”

The other problem is that revamping the websites can be rather costly, a problem, in particular, for smaller companies that usually have websites built 10 years ago.

“But we are talking about it more and more,” Curtis said. “No company wants a data breach or accessibility problems that wind up in the headlines.”

Unless the Department of Justice issues a ruling, Congress passes a law or Winn-Dixie gets the judge’s decision overturned, the Florida court case is the precedent to which other retailers should pay attention — or they could find themselves in court, Knueve said.

“There are a number of law firms that focus on ADA accessibility, but you haven’t seen too many of those firms focusing on this website issue,” he said. “This decision may change that.”

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170622/retailers-websites-must-comply-with-americans-with-disabilities-act-court-rules

Related Posts: Winn-Dixie Must Update Website For The Blind, First-Of-Its-Kind Court Action