Continual Engine Logo

June Monthly Newsletter

Dear Valued Readers,
We are delighted to present the June monthly edition of the Continual Engine newsletter. In this issue, we have curated an array of compelling topics to keep you informed about trends and news in accessibility and learning:
In this edition, you can learn about the following:
  • Continual Engine is recognized as a key player in the content intelligence platform market by Global Market Research Trends, reaffirming our commitment to innovation and bringing AI-powered accessibility solutions.
  • A comprehensive overview of upcoming events that Continual Engine will be hosting or attending, offering valuable opportunities for networking and engagement.
  • The latest news related to accessibility and inclusion includes Delta introducing wheelchair-friendly seats, Apple’s new innovations, and CBC/Radio-Canada launching a national accessibility plan.
  • An inspiring story about how a teenager on the autism spectrum expresses himself through vibrant artwork.
  • Noteworthy news articles which include air travelers with disabilities seeking better treatment, understanding cost-of-living payments, advancing economic justice, and Canada’s commitment to increasing disability inclusion reaffirmed at the United Nations.

 

We are confident 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 Has Been Recognized As A Key Player In The Content Intelligence Platform Market

We are excited to announce that Continual Engine has been recognized as one of the top key players in the content intelligence platform market by Global Market Research Trends. This prestigious ranking is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and our cutting-edge solutions that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance accessibility. We are honored to be acknowledged among the industry leaders in this space.

The comprehensive report by Global Market Research Trends provides an in-depth analysis of the global content intelligence platform market, covering various aspects such as types, applications, geographic scope, and forecasts. It also highlights the projected revenue and market growth from 2023 to 2030. To delve deeper into the report and gain valuable insights, we invite you to visit here.

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain steadfast in our mission to make accessibility a global reality. Through our award-winning suite of AI-enabled accessibility products, including PREP and Invicta™, we are expanding the scope and reach of accessibility like never before. We are driven to create a world where everyone can access information effortlessly and without barriers.

II. Upcoming Learning Opportunities

1. Continual Engine Is Exhibiting And Attending The AHEAD 2023 Conference In Portland, Oregon

Continual Engine is pleased to announce its participation in the highly anticipated AHEAD 2023 Conference, which is set to take place at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland this July. As an award-winning company dedicated to transforming learning and accessibility through the power of artificial intelligence, we are excited about the opportunity to connect with fellow industry leaders and explore the latest trends and technologies that are shaping the future of our field.

Continual Engine’s Senior Vice-President of Growth & Strategy, Vijayshree (‘VJ’) Vethantham, will be joining the AHEAD 2023 conference. VJ’s presence at AHEAD 2023 signifies our dedication to staying at the forefront of accessible communications and our eagerness to share our insights and expertise with others. We also eagerly look forward to learning from the experiences and innovative approaches of our industry peers, as together we strive to create groundbreaking solutions for our esteemed clients.

The AHEAD Conference serves as a pivotal annual gathering, drawing professionals from the realms of higher education and disability services, all united in their mission to foster access and inclusion for students with disabilities in higher education settings. This exceptional event offers a rich program of keynote speakers, workshops, and panel discussions covering an array of critical topics, including disability law, assistive technology, accessible design, and mental health services. It serves as an indispensable platform for individuals involved in disability services in higher education who are eager to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in the field.

To gain further insight into our AI-enabled accessibility solutions, PREP and Invicta™, please connect with our Senior Vice President, Growth & Strategy, Vijayshree (‘VJ’) Vethantham. You can reach out to us via email at contact@continualengine.com to schedule a meeting. We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

III. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY

1. Delta Unveils First Wheelchair-Friendly Seat

John Morris had to see it for himself. An accessible travel expert who uses a power wheelchair, Morris flew to Hamburg on Tuesday to check out a prototype of a new airline seat being unveiled by a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines that could dramatically — although not immediately — improve the flying experience for wheelchair users.

2. Apple’s New Accessibility Innovations Will Blow You Away

Apple recently previewed a handful of new features for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac designed to boost cognitive, vision, hearing, and mobility accessibility ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The features are slated to roll out later this year. This comes as Apple gears up for its Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off June 5.

3. CBC/Radio-Canada Launches New National Accessibility Plan To Better Serve And Represent Canadians With DisabilitiesDelta Unveils First Wheelchair-Friendly Seat

CBC/Radio-Canada today launched its 2023–2025 National Accessibility Plan. This new three-year plan, Breaking Barriers, provides a framework for the national public broadcaster to better serve people with disabilities, better represent them in its content, and become the accessible public broadcaster that all Canadians deserve.

III. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY

1. Teenager On Autism Spectrum Communicates Through His Artwork

Viktor Bevanda sings while he works, the oil pastel in his hand dashing across the paper as he fills in a sketch of a basset hound with bright, vivid colors. Bevanda, 14, is an immigrant from Serbia and is on the autism spectrum. He’s semi-verbal, meaning he has the ability to speak, but with great difficulty.

IV. PAST EVENTS

1. Expert Guest Sarah Stricker Presented On “”Prepping PDFs For Accessibility”

Continual Engine hosted a webinar with IAAP-certified Web Accessibility Specialist Sarah Stricker from ansrsource. This webinar was a virtual event held on June 15, 2023.
In her position, Sarah works collaboratively with organizations and institutions of higher education to develop courses and course components with an accessibility focus. Sarah formerly held positions as an instructional designer and an educational technology specialist at UC Berkeley before joining ansrsource. She holds a Web Accessibility Specialist certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) (WAS).
During this engaging webinar, Sarah provided a hands-on demonstration, sharing invaluable insights, tools, and best practices on how to enhance document accessibility by prioritizing accessibility from the outset. Moreover, she emphasized that PDFs present notable challenges for higher education institutions striving to meet accessibility standards. These challenges involve adhering to guidelines, implementing best practices, conducting expert audits, and maintaining high accuracy. Consequently, ensuring accessibility becomes a resource-intensive and time-consuming process for institutions.
If you were unable to attend the event, click here to gain access to the webinar recording or download an accessible version of the presentation here.

IV. News Articles On Accessibility

1. Supreme Court Hands Down ‘Major Victory’ For Disability Rights

Disability advocates are hailing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case that they feared could lead to severe restrictions on the rights of people who rely on Medicaid and other government programs. The high court issued an opinion late last week in a case known as Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski.

2. Unlocking Potential: The Transforming Power of Assistive Technology

According to the WHO, nearly a third of the world’s population requires at least one form of assistive technology. Despite this, there is a massive inequality gap leaving many without access to the assistive technology they need. Pascal Bijleveld presents access to safe, effective, and affordable assistive technology as a human right, and what each of us can do to push for a more equitable and inclusive world.

3. Federal Government Says Air Travellers With Disabilities Must Be Treated Better

A meeting between federal government officials and the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) to discuss a shared commitment to do more for air travelers with disabilities was described as “productive and candid.” But the feds say airlines need to do more.

4. Cost-Of-Living Payments: Who Is Getting Them And When?

Millions of people are receiving payments to help with higher bills, with more to come. Low-income households, pensioners, and some disabled people are entitled to additional cost-of-living funds after the government extended a scheme it launched in 2022. A committee of MPs is currently investigating whether the payments are supporting those most in need.

5. IncFest: Disabled Artists Perform At Cheltenham Music Festival

IncFest performers are set to take to The Bacon Theatre stage in Cheltenham on Thursday. Organized by Gloucestershire charity The Music Works, those involved have been rehearsing the show for a year. “The festival is a celebration of inclusion, talent, and the transformative power of music,” the charity’s Lee Holder said.

6. Advancing Economic Justice For People With Disabilities

The disability community is the largest American minority population. At least 41 million adults in the United States, almost 13 percent of the population, have some type of disability. In response, Asset Funders Network (AFN) is taking a step forward in helping level the playing field for people with disabilities by publishing a set of philanthropic recommendations for grantmakers in its report, Advancing Economic Justice for People with Disabilities.

7. BrandWatch: Companies ‘Woefully Behind’ In Grappling With Ethics Risks Of AI

From speech recognition and chatbots to robotic automation and natural language generation, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by businesses is proliferating by the day. As the ubiquity of AI grows, however, so too do the ethical risks. Recent warnings include global labor distortions, disruptions to national security and public education, and even an “existential risk” to humankind.

8. Canada’s Commitment To Further Increase Disability Inclusion Reaffirmed At The United Nations

Ensuring the equal participation of persons with disabilities in society remains a key priority for the Government of Canada, and is one of the reasons why it is taking the concrete steps needed to ensure underrepresented groups are included in program and policy development.

Editors:

Debangku Sarma

Digital Marketing Associate
Continual Engine

Vijayshree Vethantham

Senior Vice-President, Growth & Strategy
Continual Engine US LLC

Copyright©2024 Continual Engine – All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy

Do You Need Some Help? Don't Worry, We've Got You!

"*" indicates required fields

Step 1 of 3

What is your goal?*

Transform Documents into Accessible Formats

  • Reliable, Intuitive, Cloud-based Platform
  • Section 508, WCAG 2.2, & ADA Compliant
  • Exponential Cost Savings of up to 50%
  • Easy Inter-format Conversions

Get a Custom Quote

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Transform Documents into Accessible Formats

  • Reliable, Intuitive, Cloud-based Platform
  • Section 508, WCAG 2.2, & ADA Compliant
  • Exponential Cost Savings of up to 50%
  • Easy Inter-format Conversions

Request a Demo

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.