Featured Story
Explaining the Impact of the Federal Funding Pause on People with Disabilities
On the afternoon of January 29, it was reported that the White House reversed, also called “rescinded”, the OMB memo that created the federal funding freeze and the resulting confusion described in this resource. On its first day, this freeze has already started harming people with disabilities. Medicaid portals in all 50 states went down today. We may see layoffs at disability organizations that receive federal funding and rely on federal grants to make their payroll. Schools must continue to provide special education services, which will be difficult if they cannot use the federal money that funds these services.
BarrierBreak Highlight
Why Indian Companies Must Act on Digital Accessibility Now?
As India races towards a digital-first approach, accessibility of digital platforms including the website and mobile applications is becoming a primary concern. As per the court order, the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has made it mandatory for businesses in India to ensure that their websites, mobile applications and other digital platforms go through an accessibility audit before 5th February 2025. Failing to adhere to the same, will be penalized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) 2016.
People Stories
S. Lebanon woman works to increase awareness of ADA accessibility issues
Beth McKelvie is actively seeking to increase awareness of and eliminate accessibility barriers in commercial establishments for people with disabilities. “My hope and my prayer is that people will value people that are disabled and want them to come to their business,” she said. In a wheelchair since an auto accident in 2019 left her with a spinal cord injury, she’s experienced those barriers firsthand. Before the accident, she was aware of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but “not to the degree I am now.”
Top Picks
Woman who aided accessibility on Wicked 'honoured'
A woman said she had been "overwhelmed" by the amount of support she had received for her work as an accessibility co-ordinator on the movie Wicked. Chantelle Nassari, who uses a wheelchair, was headhunted to work on Hollywood's take of the Broadway musical. The 53-year-old from St Albans, Hertfordshire, said she fell in love with the production after her job interview, but admitted: "I got submerged in it without any context of the enormity of what I had just accepted."
Student project seeks better accessibility on school campus
By Kentucky New Era
The youth pointed to the physical barriers at Trigg County High School that make the building and grounds not easily accessible to students and community members with physical disabilities,especially those in wheelchairs. “We wanted to bring awareness to the physical barriers that are encountered on a daily basis at the high school,” said Caroline Kosak, who along with brother Carter Kosak and Anna Roeder, is a member of the school’s Distributive Education Clubs of America, or DECA.
Achieve Digital Accessibility at Scale:
Audit – Manage – Comply
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