Disability Drives Innovation: Accessibility 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 […]
Why Voting Must Be Accessible to All & How It Isn’t
If voting is a civic duty, shouldn’t all voters have access to all process steps? As state and federal elections draw near, this question is urgent and, because of Covid-19, in-person options for voting are more risky or, just plain unavailable. Unfortunately, when it comes to digital access, voting is not an easy process for many […]
Deadline approaching for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
In 2005 Ontario became the first Canadian Province to pass accessibility laws and has one of the most comprehensive policies created to date: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Many countries, like the US, have laws that require government organizations or organizations that use government funds to have and procure accessible technology, websites, […]
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 includes the real estate, mortgage, and insurance industry. In addition to the ADA, there are […]
Are JavaScript Based Accessibility Toolbars a Viable Way to Meet ADA Compliance?
The digital accessibility industry is flooded with companies selling accessibility toolbars that allow users to change font-specific settings and contrast settings, use a built-in screen reader, and make other accessibility-based site adjustments. Many of these companies claim guaranteed ADA compliance just by purchasing a subscription to the toolbar and implementing it on your site. This […]
Does Title III of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Apply to our Nonprofit Organization’s Website?
If you are like most of the businesses and nonprofit organizations we consult with, you’ve probably heard about the lawsuits that are happening related to digital accessibility. There has been a staggering increase in the amount of lawsuits being filed (over 2500 in 2018!), which has caused a rise in accessibility education & implementation of […]
Accessibility Legal Considerations
Navigating the accessibility requirements for your organization can be challenging. Not to mention, no firmly established laws apply to all businesses and require actual compliance. The following questions may help identify how the legal and policy aspects of Web accessibility apply to your organization:* What Happens if Your Organization is Non-Compliant? Recently, there have been legal action taken […]