We invite you to explore the latest insights with Continual Engine’s July monthly newsletter! This 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. Don’t miss out on what’s shaping the future!
In this edition, we have included the following information:
- The star news of the month: PREP – PDF & Document Remediation Platform is now part of the D2L Integration Hub and Our Advisor, Dr. K. Sriram, is a Part of a Podcast with Lawrence Gunther
- Gain Insights From Our Latest Blog on Accessibility: Understanding the WCAG 2.2 Guidelines/Requirements
- Latest advancements in accessibility that are helping improve user experience include: The Accessible CAPTCHA Guide, Google’s Gameface: Gaming Accessibility Revolution
- Discover Empowering Story That Inspires: Youngest U.S. Paralympic Archer from Austin Heads to Paris
- Discover the Latest News articles that include: Maryland Launches Web Accessibility Training, Blind Artist Educates: “Disabilities Are a Spectrum”, Most & Least Accessible U.S. Cities, 2024 Accessible eText Guidelines, Disneyland’s Disability Access Limits Stir Outcry, Autistic Employees Navigate Workplaces Differently, IRS Needs Better Accessibility for Disabled Taxpayers, Generative AI Aids Accessibility But Imperfect, Govt. Supports Deaf & Blind in STEM with Refunds, 66% Unsatisfied with Disability Representation, Boston Revamps Disability Data Collection
We hope that you will find this month’s edition to be both engaging and informative. Please reach out to us if you have any feedback or questions.
Warm Regards,
Continual Engine
I. STAR NEWS OF THE MONTH
Continual Engine is excited to announce that our PREP – PDF & Document Remediation Platform is now part of the D2L Integration Hub! This significant milestone indicates that PREP has earned the endorsement of D2L, positioning us among their trusted partners committed to enhancing digital accessibility in education.
Mousumi Kapoor, CEO of Continual Engine, says, “Becoming a part of the D2L Integration Hub is a significant achievement for Continual Engine and PREP – PDF Remediation Platform. Our platform will enable more institutions to provide accessible content at scale in an effective, efficient, and affordable manner, ensuring equal opportunities for all learners to succeed.”
PREP ensures all digital learning resources are accessible to every learner. Integrating with D2L empowers educators and administrators to offer fully accessible content, fostering an inclusive learning environment. With PREP, institutions can streamline their document remediation process, saving over 60% in turnaround time, and resources while meeting accessibility standards, making accessibility a core aspect of their digital strategy.
In this podcast of “Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther“, Lawrence has a wonderful interview to share with Dr. K Sriram, an advisor of Continual Engine, who is also a conservationist, environmentalist, and advocate for access to assistive technologies.
II. Latest Blog On Accessibility
The Department of Justice has established crucial compliance deadlines for the new ADA guidelines under Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. Educational technology vendors must act now to ensure their web content and mobile applications are accessible to all users. This article discusses the latest updates in the WCAG 2.2 working draft and their potential impact on website accessibility.
III. LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY
CAPTCHA systems are tests that protect websites from automated threats by checking whether the visitor is a human or a bot. However, these systems can create barriers for people with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments, making some CAPTCHAs challenging to navigate.
Google has introduced Project Gameface, an open-source, hands-free, AI-powered mouse, designed to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Developed in collaboration with Incluzza, a Bengaluru-based social enterprise, Gameface allows users to control a cursor on their devices using facial expressions and head movements captured through a webcam.
III. EMPOWERING STORY IN THE NEWS
The youngest-ever U.S. Paralympic archer is from Central Texas and heading to Paris this summer. Jordan White, 15, from Cedar Park, beat out the 2020 Paralympic archery gold medalist for a spot on the team. Jordan has only been competing in Paralympic archery for about a year. White has an intense level of focus when he practices on a family friend’s property in Williamson County. There’s a level of precision when he aims every shot at the target.
IV. News Articles On Accessibility
The State of Maryland is making an effort to incorporate accessibility into the design of its digital services websites in order to serve a greater portion of residents. The Old Line State on Thursday launched its “accessibility officer initiative,” which offers staff from every executive-branch state agency the opportunity to learn about accessible design standards so that websites and web applications are usable for Maryland residents with disabilities, including visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities.
Paul Castle, a blind author and illustrator, has come face to face with a number of misconceptions about blindness. “He blinks. He can’t be blind.” “His eyes aren’t white.” “You don’t look blind.” Some appear as comments on the social media pages he started with his husband, Matthew. But, in a recent interaction at a Seattle restaurant, Castle and his guide dog, Mr. Maple, were denied entry because an employee didn’t believe Mr. Maple was a real service animal.
Whether you’re planning travel for fun or a cross-country move, feeling comfortable in the space you temporarily or permanently call home is vital to your overall well-being. Fortunately, modern design developments extend well beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance guidelines to include features like walk-in tubs, stair lifts, and more.
The updated Guidelines for Producing Accessible eText (2024) are now available. The Guidelines provide document creators with best-practice accessibility methods across a variety of electronic formats in common use. The guidelines replace the Round Table’s 2018 Guidelines.
It has been three months since Disney announced changes to disability access for guests at its theme parks, and now some disabled guests are demanding action. The changes went into effect on May 20 at Walt Disney World in Florida and June 18 at California’s Disneyland. Disability Access Service (DAS) is a free service that allows those with disabilities to get a return time for attractions rather than wait in a standard line.
When Chelsia Potts took her 10-year-old daughter to a psychologist to be tested for autism spectrum disorder, she decided almost as an afterthought to be tested herself. The result came as a surprise. Like her daughter, Ms. Potts was diagnosed with autism.
The IRS is in the midst of reinventing itself by offering taxpayers several new customer service options, including, Expanding document digitalization; Implementing chatbots to assist taxpayers; Adding more customer service representatives; Expanding the use of online taxpayer accounts; and Conducting a direct file pilot program.
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers on Tuesday published a paper recommending that state government leaders take care when using generative artificial intelligence to aid people with disabilities. The association’s paper — How States Can Improve Generative AI’s Role in Disability Empowerment — notes that generative AI can be helpful to states in solving challenges of digital accessibility, particularly as they strive to meet an April mandate by the U.S.
Aiming to overcome financial barriers and promote inclusivity in education, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has decided to reimburse the school fee of eligible blind as well as deaf students from class 9 to 12 pursuing or keen to pursue STEM courses.
Inevitable Foundation‘s latest survey has found that audiences have expressed “dissatisfaction” with disability representation in the entertainment industry. The “Audiences Are Waiting for Hollywood to Greenlight Disability” report, which surveyed over 1,000 people about the current state of disability and mental health representation on screen, found that 66% of audiences are “unsatisfied with current representations of disability and mental health in film and TV.”
The city of Boston is rolling out new guidelines for how it serves residents with disabilities. “This is a big change in our policy for the city,” said Disability Commissioner Kristen McCosh. The new guidelines suggest that city departments ask about accommodation needs rather than a person’s disability.
