First Cousins: Structured Negotiation and Collaborative Law

The article posted here by Lainey Feingold first appeared in the July 2017 issue of Just Resolution E-News, a publication of the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association. It tells of the significant similarities between Structured Negotiation and Collaborative Law, two dispute resolution methods focused on cost-effective problem solving without litigation. Structured Negotiation:… Read more… First Cousins: Structured Negotiation and Collaborative Law

When all You Have is a Hammer

Over the holidays I took a walk along San Francisco’s iconic Haight Street. When I saw a giant hammer mounted on the Roberts Hardware sign (included in this post) I knew I wanted to write about one of my favorite Structured Negotiation themes. “When all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail” is an idea that appears in my book on page three. Read more… When all You Have is a Hammer

March 2017 Digital Accessibility Legal Update

This post includes legal developments about digital accessibility between December 13, 2016 and March 6, 2017. It supplements Lainey Feingold’s digital accessibility legal update presentations, including the legal update sessions at the 2017 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. The series is illustrated by a toolbox because law has proven an effective tool to improve the accessibility and usability of digital content, print information and technology for everyone. There are many ways to use the law, reflected by the many tools in the toolbox and by the updates in this post. Read more… March 2017 Digital Accessibility Legal Update

Washington, DC Structured Negotiation Book Event on March 29

On Wednesday, March 29, The American Bar Association will host a book talk in Washington, DC for Structured Negotiation, A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits. Author Lainey Feingold, and Structured Negotiation’s co-creator Linda Dardarian will be on hand to share stories from the book and answer questions about the dispute resolution process that has delivered big results without lawsuits for two decades. Light refreshments will be served and Lainey will be signing books. Read more… Washington, DC Structured Negotiation Book Event on March 29

ATMs are 50 Years Old; They’ve Been Talking for 20

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the first Automated Teller Machine. The first ATM in the world was installed at a Barclays Bank branch in London on June 27, 1967. The first ATM in the United States was installed two years later at a Chemical Bank branch in Long island, New York. For 30 years ATMs remained off-limits to blind people, who couldn’t use the interactive, visual screens. It was not until October of 1997 that the world was introduced to the very first Talking ATM. It all happened because of disability community advocacy. And it’s a good reminder that today, 50 years after that first ATM, all technology should be born accessible. Read more… ATMs are 50 Years Old; They’ve Been Talking for 20

Agreement Between Mass. Eye and Ear and Bay State Council of the Blind

The agreement posted here is the result of a collaboration to improve accessibility for blind and visually impaired people at the world’s largest vision and hearing research center. Mass. Eye and Ear and the Bay State Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, worked in Structured Negotiation together. The… Read more… Agreement Between Mass. Eye and Ear and Bay State Council of the Blind

Mass. Eye and Ear, Bay State Council of the Blind Launch Collaboration

Mass. Eye and Ear Launches Collaboration with Bay State Council of the Blind to Improve Access. January 24, 2017 (Boston) – In partnership with the Bay State Council of the Blind, Massachusetts Eye and Ear today announced the launch of a comprehensive initiative to ensure that persons with visual disabilities have full and equal opportunity to the best possible care. Issues addressed in the initiative include web accessibility, alternative formats, and training. Read more… Mass. Eye and Ear, Bay State Council of the Blind Launch Collaboration

Structured Negotiation helps parties resolve claims of blind Medi-Cal IHSS Recipients

In February, 2017 California disability rights organizations announced what they termed a “novel settlement” with the State of California. The settlement, reached in Structured Negotiation, guaranteed that blind state Medi-Cal In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients received important government information in formats they could read, including braille, large print, and accessible electronic documents. Read the press… Read more… Structured Negotiation helps parties resolve claims of blind Medi-Cal IHSS Recipients

Big Win for Blind Shopper in First U.S. ADA Web Accessibility Trial

[UPDATE: The Winn-Dixie case is currently on appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal] On June 13, a judge in the federal District Court in South Florida made history. That history came in the form of a court order in a lawsuit filed by blind Florida resident Juan Carlos Gil against regional grocer Winn-Dixie.… Read more… Big Win for Blind Shopper in First U.S. ADA Web Accessibility Trial

Companies are Losing Web Cases: Spend Money on Web Access, not Lawyers

In less than two months, four different federal judges have said “Yes” to website accessibility. These cases, from Florida and New York, are a wake-up call to every business in the United States that serves the public: If you have a website, make it accessible so everyone can use it, including disabled people. Every business has a budget; every business watches how money is spent. These cases are but the most recent in a long-string of wake-up calls with a simple message: Spend your hard-earned dollars on accessibility, not on lawyers to fight it. Read more… Companies are Losing Web Cases: Spend Money on Web Access, not Lawyers