Disability Drives Innovation: A11y Spotlight
Haben Girma, the first person who is deaf-blind to graduate from Harvard Law School, believes that disability drives innovation. She uses the example of two Italian friends whose desire to correspond through letters sparked the invention of the typewriter. One was blind and the other sighted, so the latter created a machine where his friend […]
A11y Updates: Windows, Firefox and Apple
We’re always thrilled to hear about technology companies updating their products specifically for accessibility. Not only does improved technology enhance experiences for people with disabilities, but these updates move the needle a bit further towards progress. Let’s hope that other companies and organizations follow suit, because everyone benefits from accessibility. Here are some of the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
What the tech industry can learn from “Crip Camp”
Judith “Judy” Heumann, contracted Polio as a child in 1949 which left her unable to walk. When she was old enough to go to school, the principal of the public school denied her entry–citing that she was a fire hazard–because she used a wheelchair. She also could not go to the movies, was asked to […]
Accessible Web Becomes a Member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
Accessible Web began in 2016 with the goal of making websites accessible to everyone. We believe that like physical public spaces, the web is also a public space that should be fully accessible to all, regardless of the lack of legal obligation. Because we are dedicated to making the web accessible to society as a […]