Articles
This page has short summaries of every article posted on Lainey Feingold's website with links to the full articles. Visit the Writings Page to read Lainey's articles that were first posted in other publications. Visit the Topics Page for all 300 plus articles on this website organized into 38 topics including web accessibility settlements and Talking ATM press releases.
[Latest UpdateJune 28, 2022] Digital accessibility is not just about websites, and the law is taking notice. This post, updated with new developments, highlights cases about kiosk accessibility. I use the term “kiosk” broadly to include tablets and any piece of technology offering services, products, and information. Who will use that technology? People — and that means disabled people.
Read more… Kiosk Accessibility: The Law is Paying Attention
In 2020, lawyers for Dylan Panarra, a deaf man, filed a cutting edge lawsuit against the HTC corporation, one of the biggest electronics companies in the world. The lawsuit stated that HTC violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because there is no captioning on the company’s Virtual Reality (“VR”) content. The first court ruling in the case came on April 15, 2022.
Read more… Early Win (and Settlement) for Deaf Plaintiff in VR Captioning Lawsuit
October 1, 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the first Talking ATM installed in the United States. From that first accessible ATM in 1999, there are now tens of thousands of Talking ATMs around the world. In this post, the first of several Talking ATM posts over the next two months, you can read about early Talking ATM history.
Read more… Talking ATMs: Early History in California and Beyond
[Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted with the author’s permission from the July-August 2024 edition of the “We Count Recount,” the bi-monthly newsletter of We Count. We Count is a project of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) at OCAD University in Toronto. IDRC is “an open global community working together to proactively ensure that…
Read more… Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Difference Guest article by Jutta Treviranus
Mobile accessibility is about making sure that applications, information and services on mobile devices are available to all users. Weight Watchers, Bank of America, Major League Baseball and WellPoint have all engaged in Structured Negotiations with the blind community to improve the accessibility of their mobile offerings. These companies deserve to be recognized.
Read more… Structured Negotiations and Mobile Access
The Citibank national Talking ATM agreement expanded on the first agreement with that bank by setting forth Citibank’s commitment to install Talking ATMs at all of its United States branch locations. The agreement was negotiated using Structured Negotiations, by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind and individual members of the blind community. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants.
Read more… Citibank National Talking ATM Agreement
Project 2025 is a blueprint for a conservative overhaul of the United States government. It offers a frightening, dystopian vision of an America where people are deprived of rights, benefits, and values we have grown accustomed to. And it’s on track to become a reality if Donald Trump is elected president in November. I am…
Read more… Project 2025 and the Threat to Disabled People Disability Rights, Digital Accessibility, and Much More at Stake if Trump is elected
On June 24, 2024 Tribeca Skin Care, a small skin care dermatology practice in New York City, filed a class action lawsuit against overlay company AccessiBe. Relying on AccessiBe’s promises about accessibility and ADA compliance, Tribeca purchased a 1-year subscription to AccessiBe’s “AccessWidget” at an annual subscription fee of $490 in August 2022. The subscription…
Read more… New Class Action Lawsuit against AccessiBe Overlay Company Sued for Breach of Contract, Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing +++
As a public speaker and writer, I am always looking for good photos for presentations and articles I write on this website. What do I mean by “good”? I look for images that reflect what I’m trying to say, add to the story, amplify the message. And I look for images that don’t perpetuate or…
Read more… Stock Photo Sites for Inclusion
On September 21, 2022 the United States Access Board, a federal government agency, issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) about kiosks. The Notice is about the details for making self-service kiosks (alternatively referred to as self-service transaction machines (SSTMs)) independently usable by people with disabilities. The image accompanying this article is an…
Read more… New regulations for kiosks and self-service transaction machines? We’ve been here before.