Dear Valued Readers,
We invite you to explore the latest insights with Continual Engine’s September Monthly Newsletter. The September edition features a variety of carefully selected news articles and updates that keep you informed about the newest trends and innovations in accessibility and AI.
- Star News of the Month – Brandon Hall Group Featured Continual Engine and Our AI-Powered Solutions in Their Latest Article
- Gain Insights from our Latest Blog on Accessibility: Creating Accessible Social Media Content, Creating Accessible Graphic Design
- Upcoming Event: Continual Engine will be hosting a webinar on document accessibility best practices for 2024, and Our CEO & Founder of Continual Engine, Mousumi Kapoor will be presenting at the 2024 M-Enabling Summit
- Latest Advancements in Accessibility that are Helping Improve User Experience Include: Xbox’s Latest Accessibility Innovation, a Sign language app trial for train passengers
- Discover the Latest News Articles that Include: WHO and the International Paralympic Committee Promoting Assistive Technology at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Insights from Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux on Progress Since the National Air Accessibility Summit, Rebound in ADA Title III Federal Lawsuit Numbers, United Airlines Introduces Inflight Entertainment with a Screen Reader, Form Accessibility 101: 5 Essentials & Common Fixes, Android Offers Seven Accessibility Features to Enhance User Experience, NSA Focuses on Accessible Technology for All Employees, Challenges in Creating an Accessible Sortable List (Drag-and-Drop), Issues Remain for Vacation Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities, Report on the Most and Least Accessible U.S. Cities, Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Data Collection, Haben Girma’s Insights on Descriptive Transcripts, End the Digital Divide: Empower 2.6 Billion People, and a Call to Prioritize Accessibility in New Home Construction.
We aim to deliver compelling, insightful, and relevant information about accessibility and compliance through these newsletters. We welcome any feedback or questions.
Warm Regards,
Continual Engine
I. STAR NEWS OF THE MONTH
1. Brandon Hall Group Highlights Continual Engine and Our AI-Powered Solutions in Their Latest Article
Brandon Hall Group has featured Continual Engine in its latest article, recognizing the company as a leader in AI-powered digital accessibility solutions. The article highlights Continual Engine’s accessibility services and its ability to deliver fast, scalable, and cost-effective solutions and services for complex digital accessibility challenges. The feature underscores our company’s role in driving inclusivity and accessibility across various industries.
II. LATEST BLOGS ON ACCESSIBILITY
1. Creating Accessible Social Media Content
Around 15% of the world’s population faces some form of disability. It is a significant figure and a big part of the social media audience. The social media designs and content need to be curated so that everyone, irrespective of their abilities and background, can easily access social media.
2. Creating Accessible Graphic Design Makes A Difference!
Designing a website is about how aesthetically pleasing it will look and how usable it is. Just aesthetics will never serve the purpose, and designers have to be mindful of usability while designing any web page or site. Essentially, designing a website that is accessible to everyone, irrespective of their ability or limitations, is very important. Having accessible graphic design means that everyone can understand and use the graphics for an inclusive web experience.
III. UPCOMING EVENTS
1. Continual Engine will be Hosting a Webinar on “The Future of Document Accessibility Best Practices & Key Insights for 2024”
Continual Engine is thrilled to announce that we will host an accessibility webinar with Kristin Yokota, AVP of Sales at Continual Engine, and Ken Nakata, Principal at Converge Accessibility. Ken is also a former Senior Trial Attorney with the U.S. Justice Department’s Disability Rights Section, who developed nationwide ADA policies for the Internet and was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology by Attorney General Janet Reno.
- Webinar Type – Virtual
- Date of Webinar – October 3rd, 2024
- Time of Webinar – 12 PM Eastern Time
- Registration Link – https://shorturl.at/xgG39
In this webinar, you’ll explore how accessibility and document remediation have evolved significantly in recent years. We will deep dive into the key trends shaping document accessibility in 2024. Whether you’re in financial services, the government sector, or higher education, this session is tailored to provide actionable insights for improving your document workflows, ensuring compliance, and boosting efficiency.
Contact us at contact@continualengine.com if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar.
2. Continual Engine will be Presenting at the 2024 M-Enabling Summit
Continual Engine is ready to present at the 12th Annual M-Enabling Summit 2024, which will take place from October 15-17, 2024 in Washington, DC. This event focuses on promoting accessible technologies and environments for persons with disabilities.
Our CEO & Founder, Mousumi Kapoor , will join a panel of experts on October 15, 2024, in a session titled “AI Accessibility Tools for Developers“. During this session, they will dive into the practical use of AI tools for enhancing accessibility, offering developers a closer look at both proprietary and open-source solutions. Attendees can expect insightful discussions about the benefits and challenges of these tools in real-world applications.
If you’re joining the summit, we invite you to attend our session and stop by our booth. Contact us at contact@continualengine.com to schedule a meeting with our leadership team. We look forward to seeing you at the event.
IV. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY
1. As Xbox Innovates Again, Is the Gaming Industry Finally Getting Accessibility Right?
Year after year, the video game industry is advancing to better meet the needs of the disability community. Major players like Microsoft and Sony are driving this change, developing highly customizable controller kits to enhance accessibility and adaptability for all players.
2. Sign Language App Trial for Train Passengers
\An app immediately translating train announcements into British Sign Language has been launched. South Western Railway is trialing Signapse, which uses AI-generated images to deliver information to deaf passengers. The trial is currently running on services between Basingstoke, London, Salisbury, and Exeter, with hopes to extend the initiative. Developers hope the app will make train journeys less stressful and plan to introduce the app in all public places.
V. NEWS ARTICLES ON ACCESSIBILITY:
1. WHO and the International Paralympic Committee Team Up to Highlight Power of Assistive Technology at Paris 2024 Paralympics
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are joining forces to highlight the transformative impact of assistive technology on sports during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The “Equipped for Equity” campaign emphasizes the crucial role of assistive technology for Paralympic athletes to advocate for concerted global action to improve access to these essential health products.
2. Statement from Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux on Progress Since the National Air Accessibility Summit
August 20 is National Accessible Air Travel Day in the United States. The day was initiated by All Wheels Up (AWU), an organization set up in 2011 to increase awareness for safer and more dignified accessible air travel through research and advocacy. AWU created this annual day in 2022, to raise awareness about the need to improve accessible air travel for people with disabilities and to recognize achievements being made.
3. 2024 Mid-Year Report: ADA Title III Federal Lawsuit Numbers Rebound (A Little)
ADA Title III filings have decreased each year since 2022. 2024 changes the narrative with an uptick in filings, albeit a small one. In 2021, we saw the highest mid-year total since we started keeping count in 2017: 6,304 ADA Title III lawsuit filings in the first six months of the year. Since then, however, the numbers have fallen.
4. United Airlines Inflight entertainment with a Screen Reader
United Airlines has been in the news recently about their accessibility features. One feature, that was introduced in 2019, is not often talked about, the screen reader on the Inflight Entertainment System. On a recent flight, I thought I would document its features. But first, let’s talk about the history of inflight entertainment for blind people.
5. A Beginner’s Guide to Form Accessibility: The 5 Things Accessible Forms Need and How to Fix Common Mistakes
Forms are essential – they’re how users make a purchase, subscribe to newsletters, set up appointments online, or RSVP to events. Inaccessible forms mean some of your users aren’t able to complete the form, complete it incorrectly, or have a frustrating experience. In fact, the WebAIM million report found over 1.7 million form fields aren’t properly labeled.
6. 7 Android Accessibility Features That Can Make Your Life Easier
If you have visual or hearing impairments, it’s important to know that Android has plenty of features that can assist. Android can help people with hearing and visual impairments without having to install third-party software.
7. How NSA Ensures Technology Remains Accessible and Usable for All Employees
There is strength in diversity; that’s one of the messages delivered in the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy, which provides strategic guidance to the U.S. intelligence community. Among the major goals listed in the document are recruiting, developing, and retaining a talented and diverse workforce across the entirety of the IC.
8. Exploring the Challenges in Creating An Accessible Sortable List (Drag-and-Drop)
Drag-and-drop is a highly interactive and visual interface. We often use drag-and-drop to perform tasks like uploading files, reordering browser bookmarks, or even moving a card in solitaire. It can be hard to imagine completing most of these tasks without a mouse and even harder without using a screen or visual aid. This is why the Accessibility team at GitHub considers drag-and-drop a “high-risk pattern,” often leading to accessibility barriers and a lack of effective solutions in the industry.
9. Vacations for Persons with Disabilities Could Still Include Everyday Barriers to Accessibility
The 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) found that more than one in four Canadians aged 15 years and older (27%), or 8.0 million people, had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities. This rate is up by 5 percentage points from 2017 (22%). For Canadians with a disability, going on vacation unfortunately might not mean getting away from barriers to accessibility that they may face in their everyday lives.
10. The Most and Least Accessible Cities in the U.S.
If you’re part of the 12.1% of U.S. adults with a mobility disability, you know the importance of accessible design. From smart home modifications to restaurant layouts to transportation options, some U.S. cities stand out when it comes to accessibility for all while others leave much to be desired.
11. Including People with Disabilities in Data Collection
Government and industry leaders are working to better understand how data collection may not effectively document what people with disabilities need. They’re improving the process by doing a better job of gathering information.
12. Advancing Inclusive Communication: Haben Girma on Descriptive Transcripts
In the new episode of the United in Accessibility podcast, award-winning author, speaker, and advocate for disability justice Haben Girma discusses advancing inclusive communication through descriptive transcripts. She emphasizes that these transcripts provide richer context and detail beyond traditional captions and audio descriptions, fostering inclusive communication and bridging cultural gaps in media consumption.
13. Together We Can End The Digital Divide That Disenfranchises 2.6 Billion People
There’s a gold rush today in the digital world, with estimates that the global digital economy could reach $20 trillion, opens a new tab next year, fueled by advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 5G, and other technological innovations. Yet, in this rush for online prosperity, far too many lack the necessary tools to participate.
14. Don’t Ignore Accessibility in the Race to Build New Homes
It’s a damning fact that more than 100,000 people are on local authority waiting lists for an accessible or adaptable home, with many more hoping to secure other similar social housing properties. Some individuals may have to wait an additional 47 years for their local council to supply them with a new build home that completely fulfills their requirements; a dooming statistic as people’s lives are massively impacted in the meantime.
