Dear Valued Readers,
Welcome to the August edition of Continual Engine’s monthly newsletter. This edition brings together a compilation of key news articles and insightful updates, with the goal of sharing relevant information about the latest trends and developments in the realms of accessibility and learning:
In this edition, you can learn about the following:
- Continual Engine’s ‘PREP’ is shortlisted for the 2024 Zero Project Awards.
- A comprehensive overview of upcoming events that Continual Engine will be hosting or attending, providing opportunities for networking and active participation.
- The latest news related to accessibility and inclusion includes United Airlines introducing Braille to cabin interiors, the imminent official completion of WCAG 2.2, and TTML2 enhancing media accessibility through the addition of dubbing and audio description profiles.
- Inspirational narratives include- “From Barriers to Breakthroughs: A Personal Journey in Digital Accessibility“, the story of Tommy Jessop: Line of Duty star venturing into Hollywood with his script, and Nathan Macqueen’s Path to Double Para Archery Gold.
- Noteworthy news articles which include new airplane bathroom rules, empowering playgrounds, Yale’s discrimination lawsuit settlement, festival accessibility concerns, autistic adults’ employment gap, and University of Birmingham hosting the 2023 IBSA World Games.
We hope that you will find this edition to be both engaging and informative. Please feel free to reach out to us with any feedback or questions you may have.
Warm Regards,
Continual Engine
I. STAR NEWS OF THE MONTH
1. Continual Engine’s ‘PREP’ Has Been Shortlisted For The 2024 Zero Project Awards
We are excited to announce that Continual Engine has been shortlisted for the 2024 Zero Project Awards on Inclusive Education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for its solution PREP – PDF & Document Remediation Platform.
The Zero Project Conference will be hosted at the Vienna International Centre, located within the premises of the United Nations Office in Vienna. This conference will be organized as a hybrid event, taking place from February 21 to 23, 2024.
The Zero Project’s ecosystem and network will have the opportunity to engage and vote. Based on these votes, the Zero Project team will announce the 2024 Awardees on December 3, 2023, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
II. Upcoming Learning Opportunities
1. Continual Engine Will Be Conducting A Workshop At The Upcoming Empower 2023 Assistive Technology Conference
Continual Engine is going to host a workshop at the upcoming Empower 2023 Assistive Technology Conference. The workshop is scheduled for October 5th, 2023, and will take place at the IIT Madras Research Park in Taramani, Chennai.
The theme on which we will be conducting the workshop is “Digital Content Accessibility for Persons with Visual Impairment”. And delving deeper, we will specifically address the topic “Transforming Learning: Advancing Accessibility Through AI in STEM and Management Subjects.”
Join us in our collective efforts to create a more accessible and equitable future. We are looking forward to the workshop and expecting your presence there.
2. Continual Engine Will Be Attending The 2023 M-Enabling Summit
We would like to share that Continual Engine will be attending the M-Enabling Summit 2023! This year the conference is set to take place from October 10th to 12th, 2023, and will be hosted in Washington, DC.
The M-Enabling Summit is an annual conference and showcase of the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict), and is dedicated to advancing accessible technologies and environments for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Continual Engine will be a part of this event promoting accessibility and providing a brief overview on our accessibility solutions, which includes:
- Automated Image Alt Text (Invicta™)
- Document Remediation (PREP)
- Automated PowerPoint Accessibility
- Automated Video Closed Captions & Audio Descriptions
For those of you who are also attending the 2023 M-Enabling Summit and have an interest in discovering more about our accessibility solutions, please reach out to us at contact@continualengine.com to schedule a meeting with our SVP, Growth & Strategy, Vijayshree (VJ) Vethantham. We look forward to seeing you at the event.
3. Continual Engine Will Be Attending The Upcoming 26th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference 2023
Continual Engine will be attending and exhibiting at the in-person 26th Annual Accessing Higher Ground: Accessible Media, Web & Technology Conference to be held from November 6th to November 10th, 2023. The conference will take place in Denver, Colorado, at the Hilton Denver City Center.
During this event, we will be providing an informative session on the topic, ‘AI for Extended Audio Descriptions and Closed Captions: Why Does It Matter?’. We will shed light on how the powerful combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and human involvement revolutionizes video accessibility, creating a more inclusive and enriching experience for all users, including those with disabilities.
For attendees of the AHG conference who wish to explore our array of accessibility solutions, please email us at contact@continualengine.com to schedule a meeting with our SVP, Growth & Strategy, Vijayshree (VJ) Vethantham. We look forward to seeing you at the conference.
III. Latest Advancements In Accessibility
This specification defines DAPT, a TTML-based file format for the exchange of timed text content in dubbing and audio description workflows. DAPT is a TTML-based format for the exchange of transcripts and scripts (i.e., DAPT Scripts) among authoring, prompting, and playback tools in the localization and audio description pipelines.
A new version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is almost ready. WCAG 2.2 should be finalized anytime soon. This is a minor version update. If you are already familiar with WCAG 2.0 and/or 2.1, you probably have a number of questions. And we’ve got up-to-date answers!
United today became the first U.S. airline to add Braille to aircraft interiors, helping millions of travelers with visual disabilities more easily navigate the cabin independently. According to the Department of Transportation, about 27 million people with disabilities traveled by air in 2019.
IV. Empowering Stories In The News
How did Thomas Logan get started in accessibility? It all started in 2002, when he was a student at the University of North Carolina. There, he met Jason Morris, a graduate student at UNC. Jason needed access to the ancient maps as part of his work toward a degree in the Classics Department. Jason couldn’t see the maps, so Thomas got involved in creating accessible ancient world maps.
Actor Tommy Jessop was in one of the biggest TV shows of 2021 – Line of Duty. He was certain it would lead to bigger and better roles, but when the show wrapped, the phone stopped ringing. Not one to take things lying down, he decided to write a screenplay and pitch it to Hollywood.
When Nathan Macqueen had a serious motorbike crash in 2009, he says he thought his life was over. An all-round sportsman, he had played rugby for Dumfries Saints and Glasgow Warriors at Under-18 level. After his accident, though, he was able to find his way back into competition via wheelchair basketball, powerlifting, and then archery.
V. News Articles On Accessibility
The Department of Transportation announced a new rule on Wednesday requiring airlines to make airplane bathrooms more accessible in the coming years. According to the DOT, new single-aisle aircraft will eventually need to be fitted with fully-accessible lavatories under the new regulation.
When Natalie Mackay’s son, Zachary Blakemore, was 3 years old, typical playgrounds were challenging for him to navigate in his wheelchair. Often, they were places of burden. Inspired by her son’s experience, Mackay founded Unlimited Play nearly 20 years ago. Her first project was Zachary’s Playground in Lake St. Louis, an accessible playground honoring him.
Yale University agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging the prestigious university discriminated against students with mental health disabilities, according to a joint statement from the university and plaintiffs. The lawsuit, filed in Connecticut federal court last November by current students and the non-profit Elis for Rachael, alleged the Ivy League school forced students to withdraw after they showed symptoms of severe mental health disabilities.
What’s on your UK summer festival season checklist? Probably a mix of top bands, warm, hazy days with friends, and answered prayers for at least a little sun (as well as a sturdy tent). But for many disabled festival-goers, simply knowing whether they’ll be able to access the toilet can often top the bill before any headline act.
“Employment is a key social determinant of health and well-being for the estimated 5.4 million autistic adults in the United States – just as it is for citizens without disabilities,” said Anne Roux, a research scientist and director at the Policy Impact Project in the Autism Institute’s Policy and Analytics Center (PAC), who is lead author of the study.
The University of Birmingham has welcomed blind and partially sighted athletes from around the world to its UK campus as it hosted the 2023 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games. Around 1,150 athletes from more than 70 countries – including Brazil, China, India, United States, and Canada – have attended the World Games, which took place from August 18 to 27, 2023. This is the first time the World Games have been held in the UK.
