Thirty Years After the ADA Was Passed, There Is Still Lots To Be Done
On July 26th, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. In the past 30 years, many improvements to our physical world have been made–from curb cutouts, to accessible entrances to braille buttons on elevators, ATMs and kiosks. Many people with disabilities stress that though their lives have vastly improved since it […]
A11y Spotlight: Neil Squire Society
Helping people with disabilities gain confidence and independence through the computer When Bill Cameron’s cousin, Neil Squire, was in a car accident that left him unable to move his leg or arms or to speak, Bill was determined to find a way to help Neil to communicate. This determination eventually led to the Neil Squire […]
Misconceptions About Making Websites Accessible
We’ve put together a list of the 3 most common myths about web accessibility and the reasons they just are not true! #1 “Making my site accessible only benefits a small number of people.” One of the most common misconceptions about accessibility is that it only benefits people with disabilities. That is not true. Making […]
Easy Ways to Make Social Media Posts Accessible
We talk a LOT about making web content and functionality accessible and how doing so takes a commitment and sometimes, a lot of work. Something that doesn’t take much time–but is often overlooked when discussing accessibility– is social media. Luckily several social media platforms make it fairly easy to create accessible posts. Here’s an overview […]
Assistive Technology Focus: Keyboard
Imagine not being able to use a mouse or touch-pad to use your computer. Folks with motor disabilities, vision issues–including blindness– or even a broken hand are not able to use a mouse to point to items on the screen, click on check-boxes or “right click.” This is where the trusty keyboard comes in–and considering […]
Accessible Web Staff Continues to Advance Professional Accessibility Certifications
We’re thrilled to announce that Accessible Web team members have earned new International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) certifications! Senior Developers Ryan Berliner and Nick Romano recently passed the Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) exam. The IAAP explains that the WAS is a “technical-level credential intended for accessibility professionals who are expected to evaluate the accessibility […]
Gears 5: A Video Game Built for Accessibility
The Vancouver-based game developer, Coalition Studio, developed their new game, Gears 5 with loads of accessibility features–something many video games lack. A sample of the new features include: Option to turn off “camera shake,” or quick camera movements Customize an on-screen display of information to minimize distractions and sensory overload while playing Improved subtitles with […]
Ninth Annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Every third Thursday in May marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which focuses on digital access and inclusion for all. What is digital accessibility? It is ensuring that folks with disabilities have the same experiences and outcomes with web-based services, content and other digital products as those without disabilities. Each year various tech companies, non-profits, […]
Assistive Technology Focus: Captioning, Transcripts and Audio Descriptions
I love captioning. I realized that I understand content, easily retain information and enjoy my viewing experiences more when I watch videos, TV and movies with the text right on my screen. Plus, I rarely need to backtrack to figure out what a character in a movie or show said! This is an example of […]
Website Accessibility & California Housing Laws: Make Sure Your Site Complies
Most websites fall under Title III of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which governs access of persons with disabilities to places of “public accommodations.” These are defined as entities that own or operate a place of public accommodation, which include the real estate, mortgage and insurance industry. In addition to the ADA, there are […]