Structured Negotiation Helps Disability Rights Washington Improve Care for Transgender Incarcerated People

On October 11, 2023, the AVID program at Disability Rights Washington (DRW) issued a press release with the headline “DRW Reaches Agreement With Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) To Improve Care For Transgender People With Disabilities.” The Parties used Structured Negotiation to achieve this important result for the rights of incarcerated transgender people, including those with… Read more… Structured Negotiation Helps Disability Rights Washington Improve Care for Transgender Incarcerated People

Overlays and Ethics: a conference panel that hurt my heart

Today is the first time I had to update an article before I posted it. The original article, which you’ll find below, is about a planned session at the Zero Project accessibility conference (#ZeroCon) in February. The session was organized by a member of the German chapter of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).… Read more… Overlays and Ethics: a conference panel that hurt my heart

Paul Parravano: Structured Negotiation Champion, Disability Advocate, Dies at 71

When I submitted my book manuscript to the American Bar Association in 2015, an East Coast lawyer reviewer had but one question. It basically boiled down to this: “How the hell do I find clients who want to resolve legal claims without fighting? With collaboration, calmness, and kindness instead of conflict?” I don’t have to “find” these clients because for the past 29 years these committed and ethical problem-solvers have found me. One of those people was my friend and client Paul Parravano, a kind, generous man, an accomplished professional, a beloved community and family member, and an unsung hero of Structured Negotiation who died last month from cancer at the age of 71. Read more… Paul Parravano: Structured Negotiation Champion, Disability Advocate, Dies at 71

Legal Update: Accessibility Overlay Edition

This post originally shared four developments in the legal space about web accessibility overlays. Three are very troubling. One gives hope for stemming the tide of quick-fix “not-solutions” that can actually make websites less usable by people with disabilities. Updates add new content to the original four developments. New to the overlay issue? I first… Read more… Legal Update: Accessibility Overlay Edition

US Supreme Court Acheson Hotel Case May Impact Web Accessibility Lawsuits

On Wednesday October 4 the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case about who can file a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case is called Acheson Hotels vs. Deborah Laufer. Ms. Laufer is a disabled woman. She uses a wheelchair and has a vision impairment and limited use of… Read more… US Supreme Court Acheson Hotel Case May Impact Web Accessibility Lawsuits

Public Comment Sought on Proposed New “Access to Video Conferencing” Rule Published by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

On August 7, 2023, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially published a proposed rule designed to improve the accessibility of video conferencing and video conferencing platforms for people with disabilities. The FCC is seeking public comment on the proposed Access to Video Conferencing rule. Comments can be submitted until September 6, 2023. The… Read more… Public Comment Sought on Proposed New “Access to Video Conferencing” Rule Published by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)