Offering Healthcare? The ADA and the Affordable Care Act Mean Accessible Telehealth, #HealthTech, and Content

[This is the first of several planned articles on LFLegal celebrating the 33d anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 2023] I’ve written extensively about delays in finalizing accessibility regulations in the United States. Articles on this website about delays in web accessibility regulations and delays in kiosk regulations are two examples.… Read more… Offering Healthcare? The ADA and the Affordable Care Act Mean Accessible Telehealth, #HealthTech, and Content

Structured Negotiations Behind Landmark Hospital Access Settlement

The Law Office of Lainey Feingold congratulates the lawyers and activists who used Structured Negotiations to hammer out a landmark agreement on hospital access for people with disabilities at two major Boston medical facilities. A press release announcing the accessibility initiative was issued on June 26, 2009. Kudos especially to Dan Manning, Litigation Director of Greater Boston Legal Services, who championed the Structured Negotiations approach to resolve the the Boston Hospital accessibility claims. Read more… Structured Negotiations Behind Landmark Hospital Access Settlement

Legal Update: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Championing Digital Access

During the previous United States presidential administration some very committed disability rights lawyers hunkered down in the Department of Justice (DOJ). They did what they could to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act during that challenging time. But there were very few proactive developments in the digital accessibility space. Today things are different! Recent developments show that the DOJ is once again a champion of disability rights generally and digital accessibility specifically, Read more… Legal Update: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Championing Digital Access

CVS Spoken Rx November 2021 Press Release

Congratulations CVS and the American Council of the Blind! Today CVS and ACB announced, in the press release posted here, the availability of talking prescription labels in every CVS Pharmacy location in the United States. This announcement resulted from a collaborative effort using Structured Negotiation. CVS’ talking prescription program is called Spoken Rx. Spoken Rx… Read more… CVS Spoken Rx November 2021 Press Release

Iris Scanner Protects Medical Records – But What if You Don’t Have an Iris?

On March 15, 2010 CNN posted an article about the use of iris scanners in a low income Bronx health clinic to prevent mix-ups among the patients. The high tech iris scanner, usually seen only in airport security systems, is an important and useful tool for the Bronx clinic, and a welcomed one in an under-served community. At the same time, this article is yet another reminder that technology advances in the health field have the potential to leave people with disabilities behind. If you don’t have an iris, an iris scanner cannot help you. Read more… Iris Scanner Protects Medical Records – But What if You Don’t Have an Iris?

U.S. Federal Judge Rules for Walmart, against Blind Shoppers, in Self-checkout Kiosk Case

On October 12, 2021 a United States federal judge in Maryland ruled that Walmart does not have to make its self-check kiosks accessible to blind shoppers. This is a disappointing result in a case that started when a Walmart employee stole $40.00 from two blind shoppers while the employee was assisting them with the inaccessible self-check kiosk. Read more… U.S. Federal Judge Rules for Walmart, against Blind Shoppers, in Self-checkout Kiosk Case

Access Board Considers ADAAG Coverage for Self-Service Kiosks

The United States Access Board is currently considering proposed changes to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) that would require certain self-service kiosks to be accessible to people with disabilities. Based on their experience with Talking ATMs and tactile point of sale devices, the Law Office of Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian of Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian, prepared comments on the Board’s proposal for use by persons interested in accessible devices. Those comments, all or parts of which were incorporated into submissions filed with the Board by several organizations, are posted here. Read more… Access Board Considers ADAAG Coverage for Self-Service Kiosks

WellPoint (Anthem) Accessibility Press Release

WellPoint Announces Accessibility Initiative INDIANAPOLIS (February 12, 2014) — Consistent with its commitment to being a valued health care partner, WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) today announced an initiative to make its affiliated health plan websites, mobile applications, and print information more accessible and inclusive for all members. WellPoint’s initiative will especially improve the member experience for health plan members with visual impairments. Read more… WellPoint (Anthem) Accessibility Press Release

Accessible Medical Equipment Subject of Access Board Meeting

On July 29, 2010, the United States Access Board will hold a public meeting about accessibility standards to be developed for diagnostic medical equipment. This meeting marks the beginning of a rule making process on these issues mandated by the federal health care bill passed in March, 2010. In this post you can read the press release announcing the meeting, at which Lainey Feingold will be a panelist. Accessible medical equipment is crucial to the health and safety of people with disabilities. The Board’s rulemaking process should allow for public input on a wide range of issues such as the need for mammography equipment and dental chairs that can be accessed by wheelchair users, and the need for blood glucose meters and similar devices that can provide information in a format blind people can access. Read more… Accessible Medical Equipment Subject of Access Board Meeting