Yearly Archives: 2012

All Taxis of Tomorrow Must Serve Disabled: Liu

By Rebecca Henely
Times Ledger. (New York, NY), December 26, 2012

Two Queens city councilmen from opposite sides of the political spectrum have thrown their support behind city Comptroller John Liu’s rejection of the proposed new yellow cabs for not being handicapped accessible.

“I support taxis for all, not just taxis for some,” Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) said in a statement. “We need a fleet that serves all New Yorkers. Halfway measures are inadequate. Our disabled community deserves full access.”

All Taxis of Tomorrow Must Serve Disabled: Liu full article

Braille Comes Unbound From the Book: How Technology Can Stop a Literary Crisis

Apple is at the vanguard of a push behind technology that’s helping old-fashioned Braille replace text-to-speech audio for the blind – and it couldn’t have come at a more critical time

Saabira Chaudhuri guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 14 February 2012

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, Chancey Fleet reads the menu of Bombay Garden to four friends gathered at the back of the Chelsea-based Indian restaurant in New York City.

Although she is reading aloud, there are no menus on the table. They aren’t necessary, because Fleet is blind.

Braille Comes Unbound From the Book: How Technology Can Stop a Literary Crisis full article

New Corporate Index Being Developed for People with Disabilities in the Workplace

American Association of People with Disabilities and US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) Partner to Create New Benchmarks for Employers
December 19, 2012

Washington, DC- The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) jointly announced today their partnership to establish a national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices for disability employment inclusion and accessibility. Work on this important project has begun and AAPD and the USBLN® look forward to launching it in 2013.

“Bringing together the unique strengths of both AAPD and USBLN® will enable us to reach more employers with a strong message and resources for creating equitable workplaces for people with disabilities,” said Mark Perriello, President and CEO of AAPD.

New Corporate Index Being Developed for People with Disabilities in the Workplace full article

Improving Accessibility Can Close Digital Divide

by Rob Sinclair 03 December 2012

In an increasingly interconnected world in which more and more services are being delivered online, it is imperative that people with disabilities are not left behind, writes Microsoft’s chief accessibility officer

Improving Accessibility Can Close Digital Divide full article

A clear EU accessibility law proposed? At what cost?

by hassellinclusion
20 Dec 2012

So what does this proposed directive mean for developers, disabled & older people, and website owners in the UK?

Is it going to get disabled and older people the benefits they want, without burdening website owners with unreasonable costs that prevent them implementing it?

Read more at
http://www.hassellinclusion.com/2012/12/clear-eu-accessibility-law/?goback=%2Egde_41800_member_198257621

Govt Not Complying With Its Own Web Standards

By Stephen Bell | Wellington | Wednesday, 19 December, 2012 |

Not one government website complies fully with web standards laid down by the government itself in 2003, says a monitoring report released this month on New Zealand’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

The report, by a monitoring group drawn from the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman’s office and the New Zealand Convention Coalition, bases its statement on self-assessments by government organisations in 2011. “It is mandatory for all public sector departments, the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Parliamentary Counsel Office and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service to be compliant with the standards,” the report says.

Govt Not Complying With Its Own Web Standards full article

Ghotit Releases Its Dyslexia Writing Assistant Application, the Ghotit Real Writer Pro

Posted December 14, 2012

Ghotit released its long awaited Real Writer Pro. Ghotit Real Writer Pro uses an advanced writing assistance technology tailor-made for people with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning disabilities.

Ghotit Releases Its Dyslexia Writing Assistant Application, the Ghotit Real Writer Pro full article

Disabled Passengers Experience Discrimination On Public Transport

December 7, 2012
By Eve Pearce

Traveling with a disability is rarely simple, but it can be made easier by companies and governments offering wheelchair friendly solutions for public transport. However, many people believe that these measures don’t currently stretch far enough.

Disabled Passengers Experience Discrimination On Public Transport full article

Justice Denied for People With Disabilities

Published on Thursday, 06 December 2012
Written by Stephen Pate

Confrontational Canadian system makes people with disabilities fight for their human rights in court

Jeff Moore needed special education which was his right says Supreme Court

It took Jeffery Moore 20 years to get special educational funding that he needed in elementary school.

By the time his case was decided by the Supreme Court of Canada (Moore v. British Columbia (Education), 2012 SCC 61), Jeffery graduated high school and was employed as a plumber.

Moore was one of the lucky few whose parents could mortgage their home and endure a 20 year legal battle against the Canadian legal system.

Justice Denied for People With Disabilities full article

Parents Defend Private Schools for Learning Disabled

MLA Kent Hehr’s private member’s motion calls for an end to private school subsidies
CBC News Posted: Dec 4, 2012

Some parents of children with learning disabilities are joining the debate over public funding to Alberta’s private schools, arguing in favour of taxpayer money in some private classrooms.

Parent Colleen Willmer said she noticed big changes in her son since he switched from a public school to a private one called Foothills Academy that specializes in teaching students with learning disabilities.

“His self esteem has grown a thousand per cent. His marks this year are unbelievable and he loves coming to the school.”

Parents Defend Private Schools for Learning Disabled full article