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.
This is a pre-opening day update about accessibility improvements to mlb.com and the 2010 audio and video players. This information will be updated on this site and on Brian Charlson’s website.
MLB has been working very hard to ensure that this year’s video and audio players are accessible, and the ACB MLB accessibility group has been working closely with them in this effort. One thing we have learned in the process is that changes to the whole site — not just accessibility — are being made up to the very last moment.
Read more… MLB.Com: Gearing up for Opening Day Accessibility
The disability community lost a strong advocate on April 6 when San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner August J.P. Longo died unexpectedly in his home. In addition to his Commissioner title, August was well known for his role on the City’s Access Appeals Board, his position as Regional Director of the State Democratic Party, and other activism in state and local politics. Less known was his advocacy for accessible health care. It was in this capacity that my co-counsel Linda Dardarian and I came to know and appreciate August Longo.
Read more… August Longo: Advocate for Accessible Health Care through Structured Negotiations
On July 15 2010, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation adopted “The Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act,” Senate Bill S. 3304. By a unanimous voice vote the bill was moved to the full Senate floor. The Law Office of Lainey Feingold thanks the disability advocates in the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) whose tireless commitment and endless work got this important legislation to this critical juncture.
Read more… Thank You COAT Advocates
For the sixth year in a row, Linda Dardarian has been named a California Super Lawyer by her peers in the legal community. Linda, a partner in the Oakland California civil rights firm of Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian, has been Lainey Feingold’s principal co-counsel in Structured Negotiations cases for the past fifteen years. Linda has played a critical role in developing Structured Negotiations as an advocacy and dispute resolution method and in effectively implementing it in a wide variety of cases.
Read more… Linda Dardarian: Structured Negotiations Leader Recognized as California Super Lawyer
The international disability rights movement lost a brilliant leader and great thinker on August 9, 2010 when Paul Longmore died unexpectedly at his home in San Francisco. Longmore, Professor of History and Director of the Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University was a thoughtful and visionary scholar, disability studies pioneer, fierce advocate and role model to many.
Read more… Paul Longmore: Giant of the Disability Rights Movement (1946 – 2010)
On July 26, 2010, the United States Department of Justice issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the issue of website accessibility. The Notice asks a series of questions for the public to answer to help the Justice Department in its rulemaking process.
This post provides information, resources and examples of large commercial websites that have been designed to meet accessibility standards. These sites are operated by some of the largest entities in the United States, including Bank of America, Major League Baseball and CVS. These corporations, and the others referenced here, have made their websites accessible without litigation as a result of Structured Negotiations and other advocacy efforts.
Read more… Web Accessibility, Structured Negotiations and DOJ Rulemaking
On September 15, 2010, the United States Department of Justice published, in the Federal Register, its revised rules implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act. Official publication is one of the last steps on a very long road leading to new ADA regulations for both public and private entities on a diverse set of issues including Talking ATMs, ticketing for accessible seating, effective communication, service animals and more. The next steps? The new rules take effect on March 15, 2011 – six months after publication in the Federal Register. Compliance with the new 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (revising what is often erroneously referred to as ADAAG), is required as of March, 2012.
Read more… Revised ADA Regulations (Finally) Include Detailed Talking ATM Requirements
On Friday, October 8, 2010, President Obama is scheduled to sign the Twenty First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. This historic event is the result of years of dedicated advocacy by a broad coalition of disability rights organizations that work together as COAT – the coaltion of Organizations for Accessible Technology. Disability rights leaders will be on hand to witness the signing ceremony.
Read more… White House Signing Ceremony for 21st Century Communications Act
The California Council of the Blind and three California residents with visual impairments have filed a lawsuit against JetBlue Airways in Federal Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that JetBlue has violated California law by maintaining a website and operating airport check-in kiosks that are inaccessible to individuals with visual impairments. The lawsuit is based on three California laws: the Unruh Act, the California Disabled Persons Act, and the California Unfair Competition Law.
Read more… Accessibility Lawsuit Filed Against JetBlue Airways
As regular readers of LFLegal know, Major League Baseball (MLB) has shown great commitment to web site accessibility throughout the 2010 season. As the World Series begins this week, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and its affiliates in Massachusetts and California continue to work with MLB on the accessibility of mlb.com and the team sites. The feedback of baseball fans with visual impairments is essential to that effort.
Read more… MLB: On-Line Accessibility During the World Series
