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How Tech Solutions Help Expand Accessibility to All Customers

Tim Springer, Level Access May 24, 2022

The hospitality industry has made great strides in making physical hotel properties accessible for people with disabilities. However, online bookings are another story. And according to the CDC, 26 percent of adults in the United States live with a disability. That’s one-fourth of the population that hospitality businesses are potentially barring from digital customer experiences.

Inaccessible travel sites can negatively impact the experience of people with disabilities including those with visual or auditory disabilities. They also can hinder people with less-visible conditions such as color blindness, arthritis, autism, or dyslexia. When customers access websites, whether it’s a hotel reservation system or the home page for a hotel resort, all populations deserve equal access to these resources.

How Tech Solutions Help Expand Accessibility to All Customers full article

Accessibility-Oriented Summer Camp Makes Renovations

By BENJAMIN LEUNG @goskagit
May 23, 2022

Korey, a nonprofit summer camp for children living with life-altering medical conditions, celebrated expansions and additions to its facilities at a VIP reception and ribbon-cutting event on May 21.

The list of improvements includes three new camper cabins, a new recreational center and various renovations of buildings and infrastructure.

With its sustainability-focused design, each of the new Orca, Eagle and Bear cabins will accommodate up to 12 campers and are equipped with ADA-compliant bathrooms.

Camp Korey, located on Brotherhood Road east of Lake McMurray, provides its campers with a summer camp experience with accessible facilities, adaptable programs, and a team of medical professionals and trained volunteers to provide necessary care and supervision, all free of charge.

Accessibility-Oriented Summer Camp Makes Renovations full article

Accessibility is Excluding the Neurodivergent

Clare McDonald
Business Editor
Published: 18 May 2022

GUEST BLOG: In this contributed blog post, Craig Abbott, head of accessibility for DWP, explains the pros and cons of the current guidelines around web accessibility, and shares what companies need to do to include neurodivergent people in their web accessibility considerations.

Over the past few years, accessibility has definitely become a hot topic.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are great. They’ve been around for around 20 years, and thanks to the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, more and more digital services, websites and mobile apps are now adhering to these standards.

Accessibility is Excluding the Neurodivergent full article

Hollywood Disability Rights Groups Call on Cannes to Increase Accessibility

BY MIA GALUPPO
MAY 19, 2022

Filmmaker disability rights organizations are calling out the Cannes Film Festival for its inaccessibility, including the lack of a way to clearly access the Grand Lumiere theater without using the iconic red steps.

1in4 and FWD-Doc, which count Management 360’s Eryn Brown and Crip Camp director Jim LeBrecht among the co-founders, work to increase equity in Hollywood for filmmakers with disabilities. The groups have outlined a list of accessibility issues faced by disabled attendees of the French festival, as well as changes that they are demanding be made prior to the 2023 edition of the fest.

Hollywood Disability Rights Groups Call on Cannes to Increase Accessibility full article

Accessibility with a Plan: New Accessibility Regulations in British Columbia and Manitoba

Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Canada May 12 2022

Following the lead of the federal and Ontario governments, British Columbia and Manitoba have introduced expanded accessibility requirements for organizations operating in those provinces.

While human rights legislation in these jurisdictions already prohibit discrimination in employment and services on the basis of disability, accessibility requirements go further by reducing barriers to access and promoting equal participation with respect to public services and employment for individuals with disabilities.

Accessibility with a Plan: New Accessibility Regulations in British Columbia and Manitoba full article

Inspired by Daughter, Architect Approaches Accessibility as A ‘Lifestyle’

Saskatoon designer strived to make home more accessible, then translated that work to the community Eric Anderson, CBC News
Posted: May 15, 2022

Megen Olfert smiles thinking about the backyard treehouse her father designed for her when she was a kid.

It was wide enough for a motorised wheelchair to maneuver inside, and a cement path wound its way through the backyard up to the treehouse instead of stairs or a ladder.

“I felt like I was on equal ground as a kid,” said Megen, recalling friends coming over to hang out, “because sometimes when you’re disabled it means you have to do things differently even though you can do the same thing. It made me feel included.”

Inspired by Daughter, Architect Approaches Accessibility as A ‘Lifestyle’ full article

City of Winnipeg Launches App for Residents With Mobility Issues to Book Accessible Cab Rides

Service will hopefully give people with disabilities faster access to transportation, advocate says Sarah Petz · CBC News · Posted: May 11, 2022

The City of Winnipeg has launched a service that will enable wheelchair users to book rides with accessible vehicles from multiple taxi and personal transportation providers.

The new service, a two-year pilot project called Winnipeg WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle), was announced on Wednesday.

Similar to other ride-booking services, users will be able to set their pickup and drop-off locations, and arrange for a ride from the nearest available vehicle, the city said in a news release.

City of Winnipeg Launches App for Residents With Mobility Issues to Book Accessible Cab Rides full article

Fort McMurray Mom With Disability Fighting for More Accessible Transportation Options

Koryn Krekoski says it’s hard to get around town with very limited options Jamie Malbeuf · CBC News · Posted: May 11, 2022

A Fort McMurray mother is fighting for accessible transportation in the community after discovering just how hard it is to get around town with a child and a disability.

Koryn Krekoski, member of the Wood Buffalo Regional Inclusive Committee, had a stroke when she was five months pregnant, resulting in diplopia, which is double vision, along with a weak right side.

She can’t do a car seat up with her right hand and she doesn’t drive.

Fort McMurray Mom With Disability Fighting for More Accessible Transportation Options full article

Cape Breton Woman Selling Homemade Items with Dignity, Accessibility in Mind

Tue, May 10, 2022

A retired home economics teacher inspired to help others after visiting a loved one in hospital has turned her talent for sewing into a business creating items tailored to people with mobility issues, cancer patients, individuals with dementia, and others.

Brenda Donahue opened Caring Heart Creations at the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market in March after months spent visiting a family member in hospital. Though she’d worked at the market before selling baked goods and repurposed clothing and jewelry, Donahue said she felt like her new venture was something people really needed.

Cape Breton Woman Selling Homemade Items with Dignity, Accessibility in Mind full article

NP View: The Truly Awful Cost of Canada’s Permissive Doctor-Assisted Death Program

Author of the article:National Post View
Publishing date:May 08, 2022

It has been quite remarkable to watch: In less than a decade, Canadas medical assistance in dying (MAID) program has expanded from a system limited solely to those with terminal illnesses, to one that is now used by people who lack adequate housing. And it will soon be available to those with mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Parliament should put the brakes on this runaway sled, and fix the current system.

NP View: The Truly Awful Cost of Canada’s Permissive Doctor-Assisted Death Program full article