Central and West Java in Indonesia gets First Talking ATMs

International Talking ATM installations remind us that advocacy work done in one country can have ripple affects across the globe. ATM manufactures distribute their technology around the world, and slowly, slowly this technology is becoming more accessible everywhere. Today’s news brought word of the first Talking ATMs in Semarang, Central Java and Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia. The full news report, which first appeared in the Jakarta Post, is reprinted below. Visit the International Issues Category of LFLegal for more stories of Talking ATM installations outside the United States. Read more… Central and West Java in Indonesia gets First Talking ATMs

John Slatin AccessU 2012

Lainey Feingold will be presenting at John Slatin AccessU 2012, to be held this year in Austin on May 15-17. AccessU, a project of Knowbility, is a two day intensive training conference for web developers and designers, usability professionals, and pretty much anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of all aspects of web accessibility. Lainey will be doing a session for conference participants on legal issues surrounding web accessibility. Web accessibility is a civil right, and the law is a useful key to unlock doors that might otherwise be closed to accessibility. You’ll find out how and why at this session. Read more… John Slatin AccessU 2012

Proposed Regulations Address Airline Websites and Kiosks

The United States Department of Transportation issued a press release on September 19, 2011 announcing proposed regulations on airline websites and airline kiosks. The proposed rules would require most airlines to have accessible websites within two years of any final regulation (which could be several years from now if at all). The proposal, if enacted, would also require kiosks purchased after any final regulation to meet accessibility standards. The full text of the announcement is in this post. The DOT’s proposed regulations come as the appeal is pending in two California lawsuits against airlines for failure to maintain websites and kiosks that persons with visual impairments can use. Read more… Proposed Regulations Address Airline Websites and Kiosks

American Cancer Society Information in Braille, Large Print, Audio Formats and Accessible On-Line

Last month, the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced a comprehensive initiative to improve access to its materials by people with visual impairments. Using the alternative dispute resolution method known as Structured Negotiations, ACS worked with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) to improve the accessibility of its website and to develop a pilot program for providing accessible information. As described in this post, print information is now available in Braille, Large Print, mp3, audio CD and accessible electronic formats. Access to information is a civil right and is key to full inclusion of people with disabilities into modern society. Please share this post and help spread the word about the availability of cancer-related information in formats that people who are blind and visually impaired can read. Read more… American Cancer Society Information in Braille, Large Print, Audio Formats and Accessible On-Line

Spring 2011 Conference Presentations

In the Spring of 2011 Lainey Feingold will be speaking at three technology and disability conferences: the 2011 International Technology and People with Disabilities Conference (CSUN) in San Diego, the Conference on Employment and Visual Impairment sponsored by the Computer Center for Visually Impaired People (CCVIP) at Baruch College in New York City, and the John Slatin AccessU 2011 sponsored by Knowbility in Austin, Texas. In this post you can read about and find links to each of these conferences. Read more… Spring 2011 Conference Presentations

World Braille Day Question: Is your Information Accessible?

January 4, 2011 marks the 202d birthday of Louis Braille. The milestone is celebrated throughout the world: World Braille Day across the globe, National Braille Week in the UK, National Braille Literacy Month in the United States. In an era when access to information grows increasingly important, the birth of the founder of Braille is certainly worth celebrating. But thinking about Braille is also sobering. Despite strong civil rights laws guaranteeing effective communication to people with visual impairments, too much critical information is not available in Braille for those who need it. Read more… World Braille Day Question: Is your Information Accessible?

Have You checked your ACCESSIBLE Credit Reports?

The three major credit reporting companies in the United States have been making free credit reports accessible for almost two years. As the holiday season approaches it is a great time to review your report — in Braille, Large Print or audio format, or on the web in an accessible on-line format. Every United States citizen is entitled to one free report every twelve months from each of the three companies: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. The three reports can be requested at the same time, or at different times over a twelve month period. This post has details about how to request free accessible credit reports. Read more… Have You checked your ACCESSIBLE Credit Reports?

Almost home: Senate Unanimously Passes Accessibility Bill

The Twenty First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act is one step closer to becoming the law of the land. Before adjourning for summer recess on August 5, 2010, the United States Senate passed S. 3304 by unanimous consent. Advocates expect the bill to be on President Obama’s desk for signature soon. The Law Office of Lainey Feingold congratulates all the individual advocates and advocacy organizations that comprise the Coalition of Advocates for Accessible Technology (COAT) who made this historic bill a reality. Read more… Almost home: Senate Unanimously Passes Accessibility Bill

ADA Twentieth Anniversary Rule Making from Department of Justice

Breaking News Update! The U.S. Department of Justice has published Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on four issues of importance to the disability community. Earlier News Update! The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that on July 26 it will issue Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on four issues of importance to the disability community. The Notices will address web accessibility for entities covered by the ADA, movie captioning and video description, accessibility of next generation 9-1-1, and accessibility of equipment and furniture in covered entities. Read more… ADA Twentieth Anniversary Rule Making from Department of Justice

Federal Appeals Court Victory for Blind Movie Goers

[quote from=”Ninth Circuit Opinion in State of Arizona v. Harkins”]We disagree with Harkins that captioning and descriptive narration fall outside the ADA as a matter of law. As stated previously Plaintiffs are seeking an auxiliary aid, which is specifically mandated by the ADA to prevent discrimination of the disabled.[/quote]Great news for visually impaired movie goers! On April 30, 2010 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that audio description is “clearly” an “auxiliary aid and service” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This ruling revives an Arizona lawsuit against the Harkins movie theater chain that had been thrown out of court in 2008. The plaintiffs can now continue their case against the Harkins chain for the company’s failure to provide audio description at its theaters. The case can also go forward on claims brought by deaf and hearing impaired theater-goers for captioning. Read more… Federal Appeals Court Victory for Blind Movie Goers