Important events that impact people with disabilities in the news
Kathy Bates, a teacher, advocate, and writer, March 28, 2020 I just want to share some things that have been on my mind lately. I find it ironic that it takes a pandemic like a coronavirus (COVID-19) for everyone to start thinking about some of the issues that people with disabilities have been struggling with…
Mythili Sampathkumar, Digital Trends, March 27, 2020 As universities and schools try to quickly transition learning from physical classrooms to online ones, disabled students have been (and will continue to be) disproportionately affected. The rapid migration to virtual classes has forced disabled students into using websites and apps that were never designed to accommodate them….
Nick Eagland, Vancouver Sun, December 9, 2019 As the B.C. government develops accessibility legislation, a left-wing think-tank is calling on policy-makers to consider how historical injustices and continuing discrimination have led to a society that still excludes deaf and disabled people. A framework shows how the legislation could work by including standards for service delivery,…
David Lepofsky, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, Toronto Star, December 1, 2019 Ford ignored serious safety and accessibility concerns, documented by Ontarians with disabilities, by allowing dangerously fast e-scooters on roads, sidewalks and other places. We and others will be exposed to the danger of serious injuries, if not worse. E-scooters will be…
Jason McKee, Wired Opinion, November 21, 2019 Beyond fair and equal treatment, what is also at stake with web accessibility is the future of our advancing global civilization. The digital innovations we enjoy today were brought about in large part by a few unique individuals blessed with brilliant minds and tenacity. As it happens, some…
Chris Thompson, Windsor Star, November 5, 2019 Accessibility advocate David Lepofsky came to Essex to promote a Twitter campaign aimed at affecting change by identifying barriers to mobility for the disabled. A prominent champion of accessibility and the rights of persons with disabilities, spoke at an event hosted by the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee…
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press, September 10, 2019 The regulations do little to improve airport service or accommodate attendants and service dogs on board international flights, president of Citizens with Disabilities Ontario says. The regulations, rolled out in June under a revised Canada Transportation Act, with most slated to take effect in June 2020, do…
John Brownlee, Modus, September 4, 2019 Designing solutions for people with disabilities offers a peephole into the future Very few people think that those of us who are blind should be exiled from the web altogether, or that people with hearing loss shouldn’t have iPhones. That’s as it should be. But all too often, the…
Shawn JeffordsThe, Canadian Press, The Star, August 30, 2019 A proposed five-year pilot program that would see e-scooters allowed onto Ontario’s roads poses significant safety risks that need more in-depth consideration than the government is allowing, advocates for disabled residents claim. The government initially offered the public 48 hours in which to weigh in on…
Star Editorial Board, The Star, August 6, 2019 As accessibility advocates constantly warn, we’re all just one illness or accident away from becoming disabled. And with 1,000 Ontario baby boomers turning 65 every day, more of us will be dealing with aging vision, hearing, hips and knees that will impact our quality of life and…
