Access Information News for Monday, October 26, 2026 – Volume 1090

Getting Ready For Our Baby! | Squirmy and Grubs | YouTube.com | October 22, 2026

As Hannah’s pregnancy enters its final months, Shane and Hannah Burcaw walk through the practical preparations shaping their transition to parenthood, starting with learning the mechanics of a car seat. The episode also spotlights the accessibility considerations involved in family travel, including their wheelchair-accessible Toyota Sienna.

Are You Controlling AI RESPONSIBLY and EFFICIENTLY, or Is It Controlling You? Next NW Diversity Learning Series, Nov. 12, 9 am, on Zoom, Register today! | Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion

AI tools change from month to month. Are your processes, policies, and review habits keeping up? Or are you relying on output you haven’t checked?

This is not a 101 workshop on AI, or a prompting tutorial. Rather, presenter Mai Ling Chan looks at what sits underneath the tools many of us now use every day: how they produce answers, what they cost in energy and resources, and where they get things wrong.

The workshop focuses on the hardest case, which is using AI on topics where you aren’t the subject-matter expert.

November 12, 2026
9 am to 11 am Pacific Time
Register Today!

This workshop, offered by the Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI) will also cover what AI means for disability representation and accessibility, including AI-generated images, image descriptions, text-to-speech, and the accessibility of the apps themselves. You’ll hear a short clip from Dr. Kirk Adams, Executive Director of ISDI, and a sight-impaired individual.

👉 Submit a news article for free here, with timing and placement determined by our editors.

👉 Submit a Sponsored News Article here, with timing and placement determined by you.

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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked News Articles From Last Week 📊️

A.) For Gifted Students With Disabilities, Finding the Right School Is a Challenge | DisabilityScoop.com | October 15, 2026

An estimated 360,000 students nationwide are twice-exceptional, combining gifted ability with learning differences such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia, yet families often must choose between academic rigor and social-emotional support. Dallas’ Sage School opened last year for grades 5-12, enrolling 11 students at $35,000 a year.

B.) What It’s Really Like To Be A Standup Comedian With A Speech Difference Ft. Tina Friml | Molly Burke | YouTube.com | October 16, 2026

Sitting down with comedian Tina Friml, Molly Burke examines how humor can challenge public assumptions about speech differences and disability. Friml reflects on growing up with cerebral palsy, navigating microaggressions and infantilization, and resisting the pressure to perform normalcy or pursue a cure.

C.) What If Children Are Already People? | My Quaker Childhood & Parenting | Jessica Kellgren-Fozard | YouTube.com | October 14, 2026

Reconsidering long-held assumptions about childhood, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard examines how Quaker beliefs treat children as complete people rather than adults-in-waiting. She connects historical attitudes toward young people with her own Quaker upbringing and the principles shaping her family’s approach to parenting.

D.) This Implant Can Restore Sight for Patients With Macular Degeneration | TechnologyReview.com | October 16, 2026

Science Corporation’s PRIMA system, approved in Europe in July and awaiting FDA clearance in the US, pairs a retinal implant with camera-equipped glasses to restore central vision lost to geographic atrophy, an advanced form of AMD. After training, more than 80% of recipients could read, do crosswords, and use phones.

E.) Disabled Peer Uses AI Tech to Recreate the Voice She Used to Have, as She Delivers Speech to House of Lords | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 15, 2026

Baroness Jane Campbell used an AI-cloned version of her pre-2012 voice to deliver a House of Lords speech, after the Lords procedure and privileges committee approved advance recordings as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act. Built with ElevenLabs’ text-to-speech tools, the speech pressed the government to preserve personal health budgets and direct payments.

October 24, 2026 📅️

2.) When Accessible Transport Is Booked, Who Owns the Handoff? Lochlan A. H. Khamis | President, MedicalRide.org | BarrierFreeCanada.org | October 24, 2026

Lochlan A. H. Khamis, President of MedicalRide.org, proposes a four-stage handoff matrix for booking confirmations that assigns responsibility for origin transfers, in-vehicle support, destination arrival, and changes or delays. Statistics Canada reported that 27.0% of people aged 15 and older had one or more disabilities in 2022.

3.) Cazerny Bussey Brings ETIB’s Mission and Vision to Double Tap | EvenThoughImBlind.com | October 24, 2026

Cazerny Bussey joined Double Tap hosts Steven Scott and Shaun Preece to present Even Though I’m Blind’s work, including ETIB Radio, the Community Connect Directory, and accessible music production. The show centers blind and low-vision perspectives in coverage of mainstream technology, accessibility features, apps, and AI.

October 23, 2026 📅️

4.) Sydney Sweeney And The Return Of The “Perfect Woman” | Jessica Kellgren-Fozard | YouTube.com | October 23, 2026

Cutting through the hype around Sydney Sweeney, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard examines what the renewed blonde bombshell ideal reveals about beauty, femininity, and cultural power. She traces the lineage from Marilyn Monroe through shifting fashion silhouettes and interrogates the labor, exclusion, and culture-war politics behind claims of “natural” perfection.

5.) What It’s Really Like To Be Deafblind And Graduate From Harvard Law School Ft. Haben Girma | Molly Burke | YouTube.com | October 23, 2026

Conversing with disability rights lawyer and author Haben Girma, Molly Burke traces Girma’s path through education, isolation, and the barriers that made Harvard Law School harder to access. Their exchange examines Braille-based communication technology, guide-dog travel, workplace discrimination, and why independence must include the freedom to rely on support.

6.) I Shouldn’t Have Went To Oktoberfest… (Here’s Why) | Legally Blind No Limits | YouTube.com | October 23, 2026

Reacting to his first Oktoberfest in the Dominican Republic, Legally Blind No Limits navigates the packed festival and shares the experience from a legally blind perspective. The outing tracks the crowd challenges, local craft beers, festival atmosphere, and the costs behind the celebration.

7.) Medi-Cal Cuts Could Push Seniors and People With Disabilities Off of Coverage | USNews.com | October 23, 2026

California’s June budget will cut the Medi-Cal asset limit for low-income seniors and people with disabilities from $130,000 to $21,000 in July 2027, forcing beneficiaries to spend down savings while still meeting income limits of roughly $1,800 a month. Advocates warn the change could remove coverage and caregiving support; the state did not publish an estimate of losses before approval.

8.) ‘Disability Inclusion Cannot Wait Until a Conflict Ends,’ Third Committee Hears, As Experts Warn of Barriers to Humanitarian Aid, AI Risks | Press.un.org | October 23, 2026

UN experts told the General Assembly’s Third Committee that inaccessible warnings, evacuation procedures and shelters leave people with disabilities at life-threatening risk during conflicts and disasters. Chair Miyeon Kim also called for accessible AI design, disability-rights impact assessments, human oversight and remedies to curb discrimination and privacy harms.

9.) Maine’s Youngest Children Need Head Start. A Proposed Federal Rule Puts It at Risk. | PressHerald.com | October 23, 2026

A proposed HHS rule would remove Head Start requirements for prompt developmental screenings, follow-up care and checks that children have regular doctors and dentists. York County pediatrician Dr. Deirdre Burns Mondor says the changes could weaken a program that last year identified 217 Maine preschoolers and 46 infants and toddlers for special education or early intervention.

10.) Cuba’s Special Ed Schools: Teachers Keep Classes Going Despite Crisis | Reuters.com | October 23, 2026

At Havana’s Abel Santamaría School for the Blind, fuel shortages have cut in-person classes for its 44 blind and low-vision students to four days a week, and teachers move children to windows and courtyards during blackouts that often run past 18 hours a day. Teacher Yarnelys Bec Abalela, a former student of the school, says it remains the best place to give these children the tools they need; Cuba keeps 330 special education schools open.

11.) CDC Finds Developmental Disability Prevalence Up ‘Significantly’ | DisabilityScoop.com | October 23, 2026

CDC researchers found parent-reported developmental disabilities among US children ages 3-17 rose from 16.7% in 2019 to 20.5% in 2024, or roughly 1 in 5 children. Autism reports rose more than 42% and ADHD 26%; lead author Benjamin Zablotsky cited earlier detection and awareness as possible drivers.

12.) Democrats Demand Tougher Standards for Companies Running Medicaid Systems | DisabilityScoop.com | October 23, 2026

Senators Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, and Raphael Warnock want CMS to impose mandatory contract standards and disclose performance data for Medicaid eligibility-system vendors. Their report cites failures at systems run by Deloitte and others as states rush to implement new Medicaid work requirements affecting millions of enrollees.

13.) Remembering RJ Mitte, Who Improved Disability Representation Onscreen | GlobalDisabilityNews.org | October 23, 2026

RJ Mitte’s Walter Jr. on Breaking Bad offered a rare major TV role in which cerebral palsy was part of a fully realized teenager rather than the character’s sole trait. Beth Haller traces Mitte’s advocacy for accessible sets and disability-inclusive casting, noting SAG-AFTRA’s 2014 Harold Russell Award and his influence on actors including Micah Fowler.

14.) Making Peace with What You Can’t Control | HadleyHelps.org | October 23, 2026

After 33 years of retinopathy and a later macular degeneration diagnosis, Nevada City psychotherapist and disabled veteran Bill Larson describes the fear, anger, and family strain that accompanied worsening vision loss. He says meditation, therapy, and accepting limitations helped him build patience and manage both PTSD and vision loss.

15.) Camps for Building Belief and More – I Came Into This World With Nothing! I Am Going to Leave With Nothing! But I’ll Give Something Back Before I Leave! | BarrierFreeCanada.org | October 23, 2026

Accessibility advocate Donna J. Jodhan asks whether camps should prepare young people for the move from school into adult and professional life, teaching them to make decisions, present themselves professionally, manage money and believe in themselves. Such camps, she argues, would complement schools and families as a bridge between education and adulthood, and may be an investment in our future we cannot afford not to make.

October 22, 2026 📅️

16.) Getting Ready For Our Baby! | Squirmy and Grubs | YouTube.com | October 22, 2026

As Hannah’s pregnancy enters its final months, Shane and Hannah Burcaw walk through the practical preparations shaping their transition to parenthood, starting with learning the mechanics of a car seat. The episode also spotlights the accessibility considerations involved in family travel, including their wheelchair-accessible Toyota Sienna.

17.) ‘Deep Concern’ Over Minister’s Refusal to Guarantee Free Personal Care for Working-Age Adults | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 22, 2026

Care minister Alison McGovern declined to guarantee that the government’s proposed free personal care scheme for over-65s will extend to working-age disabled adults, saying Baroness Casey’s commission must address different challenges. Campaigners also cite the frozen GBP23,250 capital limit, which can force workers such as Maxwell McKnight to spend savings on care.

18.) Looming School Staff Strike Threatens Access to Education for Some Students With Disabilities | CBC.ca | October 22, 2026

CUPE’s 5,500 Nova Scotia school support workers enter a legal strike position Oct. 26, potentially leaving some students with disabilities without in-person schooling when required educational program assistants are unavailable. Parents Heather Rose and Karen Morash cite traumatic 2023 disruptions; Education Minister Brendan Maguire says the province respects students’ right to equal education.

19.) Instagram, Facebook and TikTok Fail to Act on Animations Spreading Hate and Lies About PIP Claimants | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 22, 2026

Animations portraying PIP claimants as benefit cheats have drawn hundreds of thousands of views on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, with one reaching 390,000 views and more than 9,000 likes. DWP figures put fraudulent PIP spending at 1.4% in 2025-26; Disability Rights UK’s Sophia Kleanthous called the sharing rate alarming and warned of exclusion and mental distress.

20.) Covid Inquiry Criticized for Sidelining Disabled People Who Received Support at Home in Pandemic | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 22, 2026

While the UK Covid-19 Inquiry found national failures left care settings exposed, campaigners say its adult social care report sidelines disabled people receiving support at home. Disability Rights UK’s Georgia Bondy noted that domiciliary care appears 146 times versus 1,121 mentions of care homes, with no recommendations focused specifically on care at home.

21.) Autism Therapy Firm Under Federal Investigation | DisabilityScoop.com | October 22, 2026

ABA Centers of America says it is cooperating with a federal investigation into its billing practices. A New Hampshire affidavit alleges claims misrepresented service locations, providers and medical necessity, while an affiliated billing arm charged for non-treatment time; no criminal charges have been filed.

22.) Remarkable World Commentary Episode #118: Interview With Michael Feir, Author, Personal Power | DonnaJodhan.com | October 22, 2026

Michael Feir, founder of the 1996 Audyssey email magazine for games playable by blind people, tells Donna J. Jodhan how the volunteer publication reached readers in at least 14 countries before burnout ended its eight-year run. Feir also outlines Personal Power, his free iPhone guide, stressing VoiceOver training and verification when AI-generated descriptions or actions matter.

23.) Cazerny Bussey Featured on Through Our Eyes Podcast: Music, Media, and Creating Opportunity | EvenThoughImBlind.com | October 22, 2026

PRRF’s Through Our Eyes podcast featured Cazerny Bussey, founder and CEO of Even Though I’m Blind, Inc., in Episode 55, “Music, Media, and Building Even Though I’m Blind with Cazerny Bussey.” Bussey reflects on his blind father, creativity, and ETIB’s work in accessible media, advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement.

24.) More Than 2 Million Veterans Now Have 100% Disability Ratings: Why the Number Doubled in 5 Years | LehighValleyLive.com | October 22, 2026

The number of veterans with a 100% disability rating rose from 941,463 in June 2021 to 2,090,059 in June 2026, according to an OAF Nation analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs data. Military.com found the main driver was rating increases for veterans already receiving compensation, with roughly three such increases for every first-time recipient between fiscal years 2023 and 2025.

25.) Election 2026: Need Special Accommodations to Vote? What You Need to Know. | BridgeDetroit.com | October 22, 2026

Michigan voters with print disabilities can request an accessible electronic absentee ballot, complete it electronically, then print, sign and return it to their local clerk. BridgeDetroit also details curbside voting, Voter Assist Terminals at every polling place, language options and state complaint channels.

26.) One Product, No Leads: EEOC Sues Solera for Alleged Disability Discrimination | HCAMag.com | October 22, 2026

The EEOC sued Solera Holdings in Maryland on October 20, 2026, alleging the company denied effective accommodations to a visually impaired sales worker, restricted him to one low-demand product, and later fired him. The complaint brings ADA claims for failure to accommodate, retaliation over unpaid leave, and disability discrimination.

27.) ‘No One Gets Left Behind’: Accessibility Shines for Halloween in Cobourg | GrantHaven.com | October 22, 2026

Five Counties Children’s Centre will hold its third All-o-ween in Cobourg on Oct. 28, offering an indoor, sensory-friendly trick-or-treating event for children of all abilities. Hayley Hodges, the center’s client and family experience lead, said timed registration is intended to prevent crowds from becoming overwhelming.

28.) Health Progress in Africa Leaves More People Living With Disabilities: Rehabilitation Is the Next Challenge | TheConversation.com | October 22, 2026

Global Burden of Disease 2023 data show healthy life expectancy rose from 61.1 years in 2010 to 63.1 in 2023, while years lived with disability climbed from 786 million to 990 million. Physiotherapist Ukachukwu Abaraogu says African health systems must pair improved survival from infectious and noncommunicable diseases with primary-care and community rehabilitation.

29.) Handi-Link: Legal Battle, Celiac Canada | Cam Wells | CJAM 99.1 FM | October 22, 2026

This program focuses on disability issues. Host Cam Wells will explore all sides of this comparing and contrasting with able bodied life. This week Featuring: Dragana and Damian Ziviclic: Disability advocates. Caleigh McAulay: Celiac Canada.

October 21, 2026 📅️

30.) Vision Australia Concerned by Victorian Schools Smart Glasses Ban | Medianet.com.au | October 21, 2026

Vision Australia says Victoria’s planned 2027 ban on smart glasses in schools could restrict essential assistive technology for blind and low-vision students. Chief Mission Officer Chris Edwards said the proposed exemption creates hurdles for families and raised questions about specialist wearable devices.

31.) Parents Say Special Ed Students Being Taught in Stairwells, Classrooms With Asbestos | NBCChicago.com | October 21, 2026

Parents at Prescott Elementary School in Chicago’s Lincoln Park say special education students are receiving instruction in offices, hallways, storage rooms, stairwells and classrooms with asbestos. Parent Ana Ribeiro says the spaces were reduced for music and dance rooms; Illinois health officials confirm an open asbestos investigation, while CPS says all instructional areas are safe.

32.) Remembering Becky Ogle, a Tireless Champion of the ADA and Disability Rights | DREDF.org | October 21, 2026

DREDF mourns Becky Ogle, an organizer who built grassroots backing for the Americans with Disabilities Act before its 1990 passage and spent decades defending it. She co-founded Justice For All during mid-1990s efforts to weaken the ADA and led the Clinton administration’s employment task force.

33.) New Radio Station Spotlights Artists With Disabilities | DisabilityScoop.com | October 21, 2026

Daniel’s Music Foundation has launched DMFRadio, a 24-hour online station that exclusively airs music, stories and creative vision from artists with disabilities. The New York City nonprofit says its human-curated programming spans genres and connects listeners with more than 500 emerging and established artists worldwide; eligibility requires public self-identification as having a disability.

34.) Outcast and Gender Diverse in Egypt: an Unlikely Disability Issue | GlobalDisabilityNews.org | October 21, 2026

Egypt’s late-2024 Interior Ministry rule requires chromosomal screening or proof of intersexuality for legal gender-marker changes, narrowing an already precarious route for transgender people. Cairo-based writer Amara Refaat reports that psychiatric paperwork labeling patients with the outdated diagnosis “Gender Identity Disorder” can still help avert charges, military service, or detention; Cairo52 won a March 2026 ruling backing access to gender-affirming care.

35.) Hawaiian Airlines Holds Practice Flight for People With Disabilities | MauiNow.com | October 21, 2026

Hawaiian Airlines hosted a Honolulu practice flight for more than 250 travelers with disabilities and their families, walking participants through check-in, security, boarding and taxiing aboard an Airbus A330. Organized with Never Quit Dreaming, the Hawai’i Autism Foundation and Autism Society of Hawai’i, it was the airline’s first Honolulu practice flight since 2016 and its first on a widebody aircraft.

36.) I Don’t See a Single Election Issue That Reflects My Needs As a Disabled Person. Prove Me Wrong | CBC.ca | October 21, 2026

Alex Lytwyn, a Winnipegosis, Man., disability advocate who lives with cerebral palsy, says Manitoba election campaigns overlook disabled voters’ needs. He calls for accessible rural housing, lower-cost handi-van service, wheelchair-friendly public washrooms and inclusive recreation, and urges candidates to survey disabled residents directly.

37.) Disabled Volunteers Call for Improved Accessibility at Asian Para Games | English.KyodoNews.net | October 21, 2026

Organizers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games face calls to improve accessibility for disabled volunteers after criticism that volunteers at the Asian Games received insufficient consideration. The organizing committee says more than 100 disabled people volunteered for either the Asian Games, which ended Oct. 4, or the Para Games.

38.) Testing Your App for Accessibility: The Hands-On Playbook | AccessAces.com | October 21, 2026

Lucy Greco publishes a 20-point accessibility testing checklist for web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps, with pass rules, visual examples and free platform tools covering contrast, zoom, keyboard access, labels, focus, media, timing and defect triage.

39.) Let’s Block More Streets | DisabilityDebrief.org | October 21, 2026

Disability Debrief editor Peter Torres Fremlin reports from the European Network on Independent Living’s Freedom Drive in Brussels, where disabled people marched on the European Parliament amid a rise in the number of disabled adults living in institutions across the EU.

October 20, 2026 📅️

40.) B.C. Families Worry About Funding for Autism, Disability Services in Upcoming Election | GlobalNews.ca | October 20, 2026

Families in British Columbia are weighing autism and disability-service funding ahead of the provincial election, as the BC NDP’s April 1 transition to the Children and Youth Disability Benefit changes eligibility. Conservatives pledge to retain support, while CentreBC and the Greens propose adjustments or continuity.

41.) Ontario to Allow Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Sale in the Province | CBC.ca | October 20, 2026

Ontario plans to change its law in the fall economic update to permit over-the-counter hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss. Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the move will let licensed wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones enable built-in hearing features without changing existing prescriptions or coverage.

42.) Advocates Say Ballot Question Could Right Past Wrong on Voting | DisabilityScoop.com | October 20, 2026

Virginia voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to add a fundamental right to vote to the state constitution and limit disenfranchisement of people under guardianship. The amendment would require a judicial finding that someone lacks capacity to understand voting before that right can be removed, codifying a safeguard Virginia added to statute this year.

43.) After Best Picture Oscar Win, Director Puts Focus on Disability Rights | DisabilityScoop.com | October 20, 2026

Siân Heder’s first feature since CODA, “Being Heumann,” dramatizes Judy Heumann’s 1977 26-day San Francisco sit-in that helped force enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Opening in theaters Nov. 6 and on Apple TV Nov. 13, it stars wheelchair user Ruth Madeley and was built around accessibility needs on set.

44.) U.S. Access Board – Juliet Shoultz Named Director of Office of Technical and Information Services | AccessBoard.gov | October 20, 2026

The U.S. Access Board named Transportation Systems Engineer Juliet Shoultz director of its Office of Technical and Information Services, succeeding Alison Levy. Shoultz, who joined the agency in 2017, will lead accessibility specialists developing guidelines and standards and providing technical assistance and training on ADA access across buildings, transit, public rights-of-way, ICT, and medical diagnostic equipment.

45.) Curb to Cabin Canada Episode #1: Interview With Steve Dawson, Senior Operations Manager, Fnyx Aviation Services | DonnaJodhan.com | October 20, 2026

Toronto Pearson handles more than 4,000 wheelchairs a day, says Steve Dawson, senior operations manager at Fnyx Aviation Services, in Donna J. Jodhan’s inaugural Curb to Cabin Canada interview. Dawson says Fnyx assists 27 airlines, trains agents to ask blind travelers how they want help, and faces rising demand alongside terminal-space and training constraints.

46.) Federal Court Rules California Vote-by-Mail Program Discriminates Against Class of Voters With Print Disabilities | DRALegal.org | October 20, 2026

U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim granted summary judgment on October 2 to a statewide class in California Council of the Blind v. Weber, finding California’s vote-by-mail process violates the ADA, Section 504, and state law. Plaintiffs seek an accessible electronic ballot-return option that lets voters with print disabilities vote privately and independently.

47.) Candycopia Raises Awareness on Website ADA Compliance | OakPark.com | October 20, 2026

Candycopia co-owner Alycia Mason said the Oak Park retailer reached a five-figure settlement after its Shopify-based site was only about 92% ADA compliant, prompting her warning to other small businesses. UsableNet projects more than 6,000 digital accessibility lawsuits in 2026, with businesses under $50 million accounting for 68% of filings.

48.) Perfecting the Packaging: Unity Township Pair Blends Style With Accessibility | LatrobeBulletinNews.com | October 20, 2026

After a sledding accident left Angela Vaslavsky paralyzed from the waist down, she and business partner Sarah Thompson launched Revival by Indigo, a custom adaptive-clothing line. Their Hempfield Township storefront also houses Indigo Gypsy Boutique and House of Colour, which offers personal color and style analysis.

49.) Blind NC Voter Hopes His Trip to the Polls Inspires Others to Make Their Voices Heard | ABC11.com | October 20, 2026

Thomas Bass, a blind Fayetteville voter, cast his ballot with help from the Vision Resource Center as North Carolina early voting gained momentum. The National Federation of the Blind estimates 78.6% of blind and low-vision people voted in person in 2024; its data says 86% were offered an accessible machine, down from 92% in 2020.

50.) Colorado Voters With Disabilities Entitled to Accommodations and Assistance on Election Day | CBSNews.com | October 20, 2026

Colorado voters with disabilities can request accessible voting booths, ballot boxes and help completing ballots on Election Day, Disability Justice said. Attorney Sara Ridenour said assistance must follow the voter’s intent; poll workers may help, while employers and union representatives may not. Voters may also cast ballots alone and receive additional time.

51.) Tempe Officials Working to Make Digital Services More Accessible | YourValley.net | October 20, 2026

Tempe is auditing more than 28,000 online documents and 300 software applications to meet U.S. Department of Justice web-accessibility requirements by April 2027. IT Manager Andrea Vasile said the city is rebuilding difficult legacy systems and fillable PDFs while requiring future vendors to meet federal standards.

52.) Office for Civil Rights’ 2026 Resolution Listings Rise to 209 After Sharp Decline | SpecialEducationAction.com | October 20, 2026

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights database showed 209 case resolutions for 2026 as of Oct. 19, including 118 involving disability discrimination. The totals had fallen to 76 resolutions and 38 disability cases on Oct. 16, after reaching 130 and 75 respectively on Aug. 27; it remains unclear whether all missing records or document links have returned.

53.) FDA Clears Tool to Help Diagnose Autism | DisabilityScoop.com | October 20, 2026

The FDA cleared Argus Cognitive’s Neurora to support autism diagnostic decisions for children ages 18 months to 12 years. The automated tool analyzes more than 100 biometrics from assessment video and audio, including facial expressions, voice patterns and eye gaze; a 2026 study found it distinguished children with and without autism in nearly 78% of cases.

54.) How Tech Can Help or Harm Instruction for English Learners With Disabilities | EdWeek.org | October 20, 2026

Technology can expand access to content in students’ home languages or simplified formats, but webinar panelists warned it can also isolate English learners with disabilities. Lehigh University’s Sara Kangas urged schools to protect peer interaction; 75% of educators report insufficient trained staff, according to EdWeek Research Center.

55.) Vietnam Advances AI for Disability Inclusion | Dig.watch | October 20, 2026

Vietnam is expanding AI-enabled accessibility tools and digital-skills training for its more than seven million people with disabilities, including the Blife eye-movement-to-speech system used in several hospitals. A 2026 survey found 91% of 201 respondents had internet-connected devices, but 52% did not know how to use AI tools.

56.) The ‘Activity Trap’: Fear of Losing Benefits Is Stopping Some Disabled People From Exercising | TheConversation.com | October 20, 2026

Drawing on a survey of more than 200 disabled people, a Disability Rights UK report found that 80% feared physical activity could jeopardize benefits. It calls for assessor training and PIP decisions that account for fluctuating conditions, pain and fatigue.

October 19, 2026 📅️

57.) Trust Your Gut: How To Find The Work You’re Meant To Do | Driven by Purpose | YouTube.com | October 19, 2026

Sitting down with Matt Gottesman, Isaac, Evan, and Mike examine how a sense of purpose can guide career decisions through setbacks, pivots, and uncertainty. Gottesman draws on his experience working with global brands and building media ventures to argue that AI can speed up meaningful work without replacing human judgment or creative perspective.

58.) Even Though I’m Blind Covers The 10th Annual Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant 2026 | Even Though I’m Blind | YouTube.com | October 19, 2026

Showcasing the 10th Annual Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant 2026, Even Though I’m Blind covers the event and its celebration of blind women. The report centers the pageant’s milestone anniversary and the empowerment-focused platform it brings to participants and audiences.

59.) Civil Rights – Preemption – Airline | MiLawyersWeekly.com | October 19, 2026

A federal judge in the Eastern District of Michigan dismissed Daniel Mancina’s Michigan disability-discrimination claims against Delta, finding them preempted by federal aviation law. The court held that the ACAA occupies relevant accessibility duties, while the ADA completely preempts both the website and mobile-app claims.

60.) DWP Acknowledges Barriers to Digital Services Faced by Some Disabled Claimants | PublicTechnology.net | October 19, 2026

Social security and disability minister Sir Stephen Timms said DWP’s Access to Work portal cannot let authorized appointees submit or manage claims because GOV.UK One Login relies on individual identity verification. DWP plans work in the second half of 2027-28 to identify secure options, while offering phone and Relay UK alternatives.

61.) Nearly 1 in 5 Public School Students Have IEPs or 504 Plans | DisabilityScoop.com | October 19, 2026

New U.S. Department of Education civil rights data puts students with disabilities at 19% of the nearly 50 million children in public schools in 2023-24, up from 17% two years earlier. Students served under IDEA make up 15% of enrollment but 68% of seclusion cases and 73% of physical restraints.

62.) Wheelchair User Finally Moves Into Alternative Accessible Flat After Year-Long Eviction Battle | GlobalDisabilityNews.org | October 19, 2026

After more than a year of displacement, Sophie, a 30-year-old wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, moved into a temporary adapted Southampton flat in May 2026. The new ground-floor home has ceiling hoists but remains smaller and difficult to navigate, while her original Admirals Quay flat is not expected to reopen until August 2028.

63.) Unbreakable: Eyes Like Mine’s 10th Annual Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant | EvenThoughImBlind.com | October 19, 2026

Eyes Like Mine, Inc. crowned Lisa Jones Ms. Blind Diva 2026 at its 10th annual empowerment pageant in Newark, pairing the October 16-17 celebration with advocacy around blind and low-vision leadership. Waymo, a sponsor, demonstrated a self-driving vehicle; representative Monica described screen-reader compatibility and haptic cues intended to help riders locate it.

64.) Report: How to Make Government Websites AI Friendly | RouteFifty.com | October 19, 2026

A new report from Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation shows government IT offices, chief information officers and web teams how to keep public websites readable by the AI assistants residents now use in place of visiting them. Its advice includes reviewing security settings that can block legitimate AI crawlers and weighing that access against hosting capacity.

65.) How to Protect Disability Benefits From Money in Trump Accounts | USAToday.com | October 19, 2026

Parents of disabled children can claim eligible Trump Account seed money but must complete a one-time, tax-free rollover to an ABLE account in the calendar year the child turns 17, advisers say. At 18, the account becomes an IRA and may exceed SSI’s $2,000 individual asset cap; ABLE balances up to $100,000 are excluded.

66.) One in Four Digital ID Firms Miss Accessibility Targets and Keep Hold of Demographic Data | PublicTechnology.net | October 19, 2026

A new Office for Digital Identities and Attributes survey found that 25% of accredited digital ID firms miss WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards, while 11% do not know their compliance status. Of firms collecting demographic data, only 19% use it to monitor inclusion; 89% use biometrics, but just 49% track accuracy by demographic group.

67.) UK Government Promises Disabled Air Passengers Better Safeguards | TheGuardian.com | October 19, 2026

The UK plans to lift the compensation cap for lost or damaged wheelchairs and give the aviation regulator power to fine airlines and airports that fail to provide required assistance. The changes, expected in the civil aviation bill, follow more than 1,000 wheelchairs damaged in transit in 2024; Airlines UK says 82% of passengers needing help report satisfaction.

68.) Seen From Outside: Free College Accessibility Guide | PathAbleAI.com | October 19, 2026

PathAble AI has released Seen From Outside, a free guide that shows anyone how to review a public college’s website the way a student would, in one afternoon and with no login. It covers eight checks, the three reasons the same problems keep returning, what the federal Title II web rule requires and when, and a 90-day plan that pairs fixes with staff training by role.

Last Week 📅️

69.) Can Blind People Feel You Staring? | Legally Blind No Limits | YouTube.com | October 18, 2026

Cutting through assumptions about blindness, Legally Blind No Limits examines whether blind people can sense when someone is staring. The discussion draws on personal, awkward encounters to separate social cues and heightened awareness from the popular idea of a sixth sense.

70.) Wheelchair User Highlights Accessibility Issues in Keswick | NewsAndStar.co.uk | October 18, 2026

Wheelchair user Annie Garforth raised concerns about accessibility in Keswick after a misunderstanding kept her from joining her grandchildren at Kong Adventure’s climbing wall, and a trip around town alone revealed narrow sidewalks and businesses she could not enter. Her experience has started a wider conversation about disability access and inclusion in the Lake District.

71.) Interview: Disability Inclusion Isn’t Social Gesture, but Governance Imperative, Says Yinka Olaito | TheCable.ng | October 18, 2026

Yinka Olaito, executive director of the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa, says Nigeria must treat disability inclusion as an enforceable governance obligation rather than charity. He calls for accessibility standards, reasonable accommodations, dedicated budgets, disaggregated data, and penalties for non-compliance.

72.) Political Candidates Are Scared of Disabled People Like Me. Here’s Why – and What They’re Getting Wrong | CBC.ca | October 18, 2026

Alex Lytwyn, a Winnipegosis, Manitoba, disability advocate with cerebral palsy, says political candidates often freeze or focus on his power chair rather than engage with him. He says inaccessible rural Manitoba campaign venues limit contact with disabled voters, and candidates should research accessibility as a voting-rights issue.

73.) Building a More Accessible Future of Mobility: Alan Hejl, Founder of Spark Access, on Access Granted Episode 33 | Ablr360.com | October 18, 2026

On Ablr’s Access Granted podcast, Spark Access founder Alan Hejl, who started the auto industry’s first accessibility department at General Motors, discusses disability inclusion in autonomous vehicles, ridesharing and electric vehicle charging.

74.) An Open Letter to Matt Mullenweg on Accessibility in WordPress | BlindAccessJournal.com | October 18, 2026

Blind Access Journal publisher Darrell Hilliker asks WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg to answer publicly for the reversal of a long-awaited admin notices accessibility fix, the removal of core committer Andrea Fercia, and the future role of the WordPress Accessibility Team.

75.) PM Pledges Steps to Expand Support, Jobs and Accessibility for Persons With Disabilities | UNB.com.bd | October 17, 2026

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman pledged to raise disability allowances, expand skills training and jobs, and explore sign-language services at government offices, courts and hospitals. Meeting the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kallyan Samity, he said building plans without accessibility features will not be approved and that reserved seats in Parliament for persons with disabilities would be discussed within his party.

76.) LTFRB Tells PUV Operators, Drivers: Honor Fare Discount, Comply With Accessibility Rules for PWDs | MB.com.ph | October 17, 2026

Acting LTFRB Chairman Greg G. Pua, Jr. told PUV operators and drivers to enforce PWD accessibility requirements and the mandated 20% fare discount ahead of All Saints’ and All Souls’ travel. Violations can bring P50,000 for a first accessibility offense or P5,000 for a first discount violation, escalating to cancellation of operating authority.

77.) NCC Plans National Accessible Book Portal for Visually Impaired | TheSun.ng | October 17, 2026

Nigeria’s Copyright Commission plans a National Accessible Book Portal to help blind, visually impaired and print-disabled people find and obtain books in accessible formats. Director-General Dr. John Asein said the service would support authorized entities under Section 26 of the Copyright Act, 2022, which implements the Marrakesh Treaty.

78.) Meta AI Glasses and Blind Users: A Game-Changer With Eyes Wide Open | BlindAmbition.co.uk | October 17, 2026

Blind Ambition responds to a BBC News report featuring blind and partially sighted Scottish users of Meta’s AI glasses, weighing the independence the glasses offer against accuracy, privacy and reliance risks, and outlining how organizations should prepare their staff.

79.) State Police Launches Program to Support Individuals With Disabilities During Encounters | WJACTV.com | October 16, 2026

Pennsylvania State Police is distributing blue envelopes at local stations to help people with disabilities communicate preferences, sensory needs and other considerations during law enforcement encounters. The envelopes can also hold registration and insurance documents and include traffic-stop guidance for drivers and officers.

80.) New Research Highlights Accessibility Challenges for Disabled Passengers During Rail Disruption | Thiis.co.uk | October 16, 2026

GBRR, part of CMAC Group, says rail operators may have only 15 to 30 minutes to assess a major disruption and arrange replacement transport. Its Rail Accessibility White Paper found that only 2.8 per cent of disabled passengers surveyed considered replacement services fully accessible, while 30 per cent reported no viable alternative.

81.) Meta AI Smart Glasses: What Can They Really Do? | HadleyHelps.org | October 16, 2026

In episode 167 of Hadley Presents, Ricky and Steve take Meta AI smart glasses through a series of everyday tasks to judge how much they actually help people with vision loss. They report which jobs the glasses handle well and where they still come up short.

82.) Why Digital Accessibility? Because It Is an Ethical Imperative | LFLegal.com | October 15, 2026

Lainey Feingold publishes the text of her M-Enabling Summit 2026 lightning talk tracing 30 years of digital accessibility law and introducing the Digital Accessibility Ethics Framework of values, actions and questions from the book she co-edited.

83.) Introducing the Accessible Components Library | TetraLogical.com | October 14, 2026

TetraLogical has open-sourced its Accessible Components Library, releasing eight components with their code, WCAG 2.2 requirements, plain-language Gherkin test scenarios and automated Playwright tests, 97 percent of which run without manual review.

84.) Have Your Say on Braille and Accessible Food Labelling by October 31 | Braillists.org | October 13, 2026

The Braille Food Labelling Campaign is surveying blind and partially sighted people across the UK about food packaging, seeking product names in Braille alongside QR or NaviLens codes, with findings going to Food Standards Scotland and DEFRA. The deadline is October 31.

85.) My Top Picks for Interop 2027 | SaraSoueidan.com | October 11, 2026

Sara Soueidan shares the web platform features she most wants browsers to deliver together in Interop 2027, led by the HTML focusgroup attribute, the ariaNotify API and new heading attributes that can improve accessibility.

👉 Submit your event for consideration within this section here.

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October 26, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America

10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America introduces the accessibility settings built into Android phones, working through small changes that build confidence one step at a time. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision who want their phone to be easier to use.

October 27, 2026 | Creating Accessible Coursework: From Content to Classroom | Allyant

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Liz Franklin of Allyant and digital accessibility coordinator Pam Doran present a live webinar on accessibility requirements for educational materials, with a demonstration of CommonLook Edu, a customer’s approach to scaling accessible coursework, and tips on budgeting and collaboration. Attendees receive a free seven-day trial.

October 27, 2026 | Tech It Out: Smart Doorbells and Security | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Hadley’s Tech It Out discussion group explores accessible smart doorbells, security cameras and other home security options, with tips for choosing the right system. Participants can join by phone or computer.

October 28, 2026 | How to Convince People to Care and Invest in Accessibility | A11yTalks

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
A11yTalks hosts Stéphanie Walter, who covers nine common accessibility myths and push-backs and how designers, developers and project teams can answer them with data and examples. The session streams on YouTube.

October 28, 2026 | JAWS Essentials: Navigating PowerPoint with JAWS | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Marisa Church from Access Ingenuity covers the core JAWS commands for PowerPoint, including moving between slides, reading slide content and speaker notes, and working with images, charts, and tables. The session also explains how a presentation’s structure affects what JAWS reads, in both editing mode and slideshow view.

October 28, 2026 | Meeting of the U.S. Access Board | U.S. Access Board

10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
The U.S. Access Board opens its quarterly meeting to the public online, with remarks from Acting Chair and Vice-Chair Tina Guenette, reports from Board committees, federal agency updates and an update from agency staff. Representatives of the National Council on Disability join to speak about the two agencies’ shared mission of advancing accessibility, and anyone may attend over Zoom for Government or listen by phone.

October 28, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
This free Vision Support America session is a supportive conversation about working in the kitchen with changing vision, taking small practical steps toward feeling confident there again.

October 29, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
This free Vision Support America session covers simple techniques for moving safely and confidently around the home and beyond, with particular attention to stairs and to preventing falls. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 29, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America looks at moving through the world safely and confidently with changing vision, and at how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

November 1, 2026 | Yeah, It WAS Good! Audio-Described Dance Suggestions Due | Dark Room Ballet

Dark Room Ballet invites suggestions of audio-described dance performances from 2026 that moved, inspired or stayed with you, to help shape its Yeah, It WAS Good! film screening celebrating accessible dance on December 12. Email suggestions to admin@darkroomballet.com by November 1.

November 3, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America shares simple ways to make the home easier to see and move through by using contrast and lighting and by reducing glare.

November 3, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to make an iPhone work better for the eyes, at a pace that feels comfortable and doable.

November 5, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 5, 2026 | Accessibility and Air Travel | Accessibility Online

11:30 AM PT, 12:30 PM MT, 1:30 PM CT, 2:30 PM ET, 7:30 PM GMT
Accessibility Online joins the U.S. Access Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration to walk through accessible air travel, from arriving at the airport through boarding and deplaning, along with the laws that cover terminals and flights and common access problems and their solutions. Video remote interpreting and real-time captioning are provided.

November 6, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 6, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free, supportive conversation for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to organize the home so it feels easier, calmer and more predictable again.

November 7, 2026 | Let’s Go Shopping 11: Virtual Holiday Shopping Event | Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events

The 11th Let’s Go Shopping virtual holiday shopping event, founded by Laura Legendary, runs over two days with small-business entrepreneurs. Vendors can apply and shoppers can join the announcements list through the event’s information page.

November 8, 2026 | 18th Annual Dining In The Dark Fundraiser To Benefit The Blind | Florida Outreach Center For The Blind

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Experience an unforgettable evening at the 18th Annual Dining in the Dark, where guests enjoy a three-course meal served in complete darkness by the PBSO SWAT Team using night-vision goggles. The night also features live entertainment, an inspiring guest speaker, and a silent auction supporting programs for the blind community in Palm Beach County.

November 8, 2026 | Let’s Go Shopping 11: Virtual Holiday Shopping Event | Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events

The 11th Let’s Go Shopping virtual holiday shopping event, founded by Laura Legendary, runs over two days with small-business entrepreneurs. Vendors can apply and shoppers can join the announcements list through the event’s information page.

November 9, 2026 | Tribal and Rural Accessibility Town Hall | National Council on Disability and U.S. Access Board

8:00 AM PT, 9:00 AM MT, 10:00 AM CT, 11:00 AM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
The National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board bring Tribal leaders and elders, people with disabilities, service providers and community organizations together at Ability360 in Phoenix to discuss accessibility in Tribal and rural communities, from public facilities and transportation to healthcare and housing. The town hall is also available online, and attendees may offer public comments.

November 11, 2026 | Disability Law Legal Update: A Smattering of ADA Cases II | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this ADA Legal session, the Southwest ADA Center and the Great Lakes ADA Center review recent court decisions, settlements and agency policy changes under the Americans with Disabilities Act, from accommodation delays and return-to-office rules to service animals, accessible parking and effective communication in health care. The session closes with live audience questions, and real-time captioning is provided.

November 13, 2026 | Disability Lived Experience Through the Lens of Relational-Cultural Theory with Dr. Kirk Adams | International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC)

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Dr. Kirk Adams joins the RCT-Informed Leadership & Change Affinity Group to explore disability lived experience through Relational-Cultural Theory, drawing on his life as a blind leader and his doctoral research on blind adults successfully employed in corporate America. The discussion may cover condemned isolation, accessibility and belonging, authenticity and interdependence, and shared power and repair, and how leaders can turn relational understanding into meaningful action. The 90-minute session meets on Zoom and is facilitated by Ileya Grosman, PhD.

November 17, 2026 | Scaling Digital Accessibility through ServiceNow: From Requests to Results | Accessibility Online

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this Section 508 session, Accessibility Online looks at how the FDIC uses the ServiceNow platform to run and scale its digital accessibility work, including document remediation requests, Section 508 training, application testing and IT reasonable accommodation requests, and how its reporting tools keep compliance on schedule. Video remote interpreting and real-time captioning are provided.

November 17, 2026 | Carter Kits: Supporting Positive Interactions for Neurodivergent Patients During Emergency Encounters | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Carter Kits co-founder Justin Severs and training and grants manager Andie describe the sensory bags their organization supplies to first responders, emergency department staff and community partners for encounters with autistic and neurodivergent patients, where a lack of tools and training still produces worse health outcomes. Dr. Sam Wrobleski of the Michigan EMS for Children Program also explains how that partnership works and how others might build one in their own state. Real-time captioning is provided.

November 17, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America shares simple ways to make the home easier to see and move through by using contrast and lighting and by reducing glare.

November 17, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to make an iPhone work better for the eyes, at a pace that feels comfortable and doable.

November 18, 2026 | Birdability Book Club: Birdsong by the Seasons by Donald Kroodsma | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
The Birdability Book Club closes out 2026 with Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma, a lyrical guide to a year of sound. The book was chosen so readers could follow along month by month through the year and then gather in November to share reflections from twelve months of attentive listening. Free; registration required.

November 19, 2026 | Member-Only Event: Practices for Accessible Virtual Meetings | National Organization on Disability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
A 25-minute virtual session for NOD Leadership Council members focused on practical, hands-on strategies for making virtual meetings more inclusive and accessible to all participants. The full briefing is restricted to Council members; non-members can join the Leadership Council to attend this and similar exclusive members-only sessions.

November 20, 2026 | 2026 Virtual Technology Fair | Carroll Center for the Blind

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
The Carroll Center for the Blind hosts a free four-hour technology fair on Zoom with sessions on VoiceOver image and Live Recognition features, Lumin AI and JAWS Page Explorer, tech support with Aira and Quick Assist, and the Indigo GPS app for iOS, each followed by live Q&A.

November 24, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

November 30, 2026 | From Room to Route: Practical Ways to Build Spatial Concepts with Room with a View and Grid and Go | APH

12:00 PM PT, 1:00 PM MT, 2:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this APH Passport to Innovation webinar, presenter Karen demonstrates practical ways to teach spatial concepts with Room with a View and Grid and Go, taking learners from understanding a familiar room to reading a tactile map and planning a route. The session also shows how the same materials can be adapted for different learners and extended beyond orientation and mobility into sensory efficiency, independent living, classroom concepts and recreation. Participants leave with activity ideas and a repeatable instructional sequence for their own practice.

December 1, 2026 | CEO Office Hours: Disability & Intersectionality | National Organization on Disability

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
National Organization on Disability President and CEO Beth Sirull hosts an in-depth conversation with Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Business Councils at Marriott International, reflecting on progress and looking ahead in disability inclusion. Gandhi draws on more than 30 years in strategy, organizational change, community engagement and global business.

December 8, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 8, 2026 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: The Science of Birdsong With Donald Kroodsma | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Ornithologist and author Donald Kroodsma, one of the world’s leading experts on birdsong with more than 45 years of research behind him, opens the new season of Birdability’s monthly Blind Birder Community Conversations. He goes beyond familiar mnemonics to the acoustic differences that let listeners tell species apart by sound, and to what birds are actually doing with their voices. The series is designed by and for blind and low vision birders, and sighted birders are welcome too. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

December 9, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 17, 2026 | CEO Office Hours: Looking Back/Looking Forward | National Organization on Disability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In a free, year-end CEO Office Hours led by Beth Sirull, the National Organization on Disability reflects on milestones in disability inclusion and looks ahead to the strategies that will shape the coming year.

December 17, 2026 | Blindness as Method: Contemporary Art and Creative Practice | Dark Room Ballet

3:00 PM PT, 4:00 PM MT, 5:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
Bill Porter leads a three-hour seminar that treats blindness and low vision as sources of artistic knowledge and method rather than limitations, looking at how artists including Carmen Papalia, Andy Slater, Emilie Louise Gossiaux and David Johnson work through touch, sound, memory and description. Through presentation and group discussion, participants consider their own lived experience as a source of creative knowledge. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Bill Porter.”

December 19, 2026 | Weightlifting for Dancers | Dark Room Ballet

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Krishna Washburn, a blind ballet teacher with multiple certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, leads a fully audio-described workshop that helps dancers build their own resistance-training program with household objects, resistance bands or gym equipment. Participants learn to choose exercises, track sets and repetitions, progress safely over time and adapt training after injury; no weightlifting experience is needed. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Weightlifting.”

December 22, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

January 12, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Birding by Ear and Mnemonics With Jerry Berrier | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Jerry Berrier, a lifelong blind birder and co-founder of the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, leads a practical, participatory session on birding by ear and on using mnemonics to learn and remember bird songs and calls, with examples from birds across a broad geographic range. Berrier has been birding by ear since the 1970s and has led programs for Mass Audubon, L.L.Bean and the Carroll Center for the Blind. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

January 13, 2027 | Introduction to Simonson Jazz | Dark Room Ballet

9:30 AM PT, 10:30 AM MT, 11:30 AM CT, 12:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
Valentina Bertani teaches a ten-class course in the movement principles and exercises of the Simonson jazz dance method, building class by class to the full-body format, for blind and visually impaired adults with no Simonson experience, including those who have never studied dance. Classes meet Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:00 PM Eastern, January 13 through March 17, are not recorded, and attendance at all ten is strongly encouraged. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Simonson Jazz.”

January 17, 2027 | Actor’s Toolbox: An Actor’s Practicum | Dark Room Ballet

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Luna Vintner leads an eight-week introductory acting course in which students build practical tools for any acting pursuit: working with a scene partner, staying present, listening and responding truthfully, analyzing scripts and preparing audition material. Two-hour sessions meet Sundays from noon Eastern, January 17 through March 7; no acting experience is needed, but regular attendance and a good internet connection are required. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing darkroomballet@gmail.com with the subject line “Acting.”

February 3, 2027 | Developing a Contemporary Art Practice | Dark Room Ballet

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Bill Porter leads a 16-week hybrid course that helps artists build and sustain an independent contemporary art practice through research, experimentation, making, critique and revision, with particular attention to the work and scholarship of blind and low vision artists. Eight live sessions meet every other Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern, February 3 through May 12, with online activities between them; enrollment is limited to eight students. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Bill Porter Spring.”

February 9, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: A Deep Dive Into Warblers | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Birdability’s Blind Birder Community Conversations take a deep dive into warblers, with particular attention to identifying and enjoying these much-loved and sometimes challenging birds through their songs and calls. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

March 9, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Spring Migration and Bird Conservation With Scott Weidensaul | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Naturalist, ornithologist and author Scott Weidensaul returns to the Blind Birder Community Conversations to talk about spring migration, bird conservation and themes from his recent work and writing, just as birds begin moving north again. His book Living on the Wind was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

April 13, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: The Diversity of Birdsong With Juan Pablo Colasso | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
Juan Pablo Colasso, who has identified more than 1,000 bird species by sound, joins the Blind Birder Community Conversations for a discussion of the extraordinary diversity of birdsong and an international perspective on birding by ear. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

April 29, 2027 | Blind Travel Summit 2027 | Blind Travel Foundation

The Blind Travel Foundation’s biennial gathering, hosted by United Airlines at its headquarters in Willis Tower, Chicago, expects 200 to 250 blind and visually impaired travelers, advocates, and industry partners for two days of conversation about accessible travel. Activities are also planned around the Summit, so attendees can stay for the weekend. A speaking application, sponsorship levels, and registration and hotel details will be announced soon.

April 30, 2027 | Blind Travel Summit 2027 | Blind Travel Foundation

The Blind Travel Foundation’s biennial gathering, hosted by United Airlines at its headquarters in Willis Tower, Chicago, expects 200 to 250 blind and visually impaired travelers, advocates, and industry partners for two days of conversation about accessible travel. Activities are also planned around the Summit, so attendees can stay for the weekend. A speaking application, sponsorship levels, and registration and hotel details will be announced soon.

May 11, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Bird-a-Thon Welcome and Preparation Session | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
The last Blind Birder Community Conversation before the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon on May 23 and 24 is a welcome and preparation session covering how the event works, ways to take part, birding by ear, connecting with other birders and everything participants need to feel ready. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

May 23, 2027 | Birdability’s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2027 | Birdability

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, created by and for blind and low vision birders, returns for 2027 with two days celebrating birding by ear, community and all the different ways people experience birds. Birders of any age, experience or location identify as many species as they can by sound or by whatever sight is available, solo, in a group or as part of a team. Registration details are still to come; the event page offers sign-up for 2027 updates.

May 24, 2027 | Birdability’s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2027 | Birdability

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, created by and for blind and low vision birders, returns for 2027 with two days celebrating birding by ear, community and all the different ways people experience birds. Birders of any age, experience or location identify as many species as they can by sound or by whatever sight is available, solo, in a group or as part of a team. Registration details are still to come; the event page offers sign-up for 2027 updates.

⬆︎ 15.) Sponsor: The Inspiration Foundation

Sponsor Since: August 26, 2026 📅️

Website: https://www.inspirationfoundation.org/ 🌐️

Email: jgrandstaff@inspirationfoundation.org 📧️

About: The Inspiration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities. It was founded in 2006 by Isaac Shapiro and Mike Ghesser, the co-founders of the bath and body care brand Cleanlogic, and named for Isaac’s mother, Beatriz “Bea” Shapiro, who lost her sight to retinitis pigmentosa at about seven years old. Bea went on to become a long-distance runner, to found a technology training center for blind and visually impaired people, and to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Arizona. Her frustration was a practical one: the assistive technology disabled jobseekers were being trained on was too often out of date before they ever reached an interview. For its first two decades the Foundation answered that directly, awarding grants to nonprofit organizations serving blind and low-vision people so they could put current screen readers and Braille displays in front of the people who need them, including a dedicated fund for VisionServe Alliance member organizations.

In 2026 the Foundation appointed Jeremy Grandstaff as its first Executive Director. Grandstaff is blind, holds degrees in management information systems and organization development from Bowling Green State University, and brings two decades of organizational development and change management experience to the role. Under his leadership the Foundation has set a goal of increasing employment for people with disabilities by ten percent over the next five years, pursued through two pipelines running at once: a stronger pipeline of candidates, supported by the technology grant program, and a pipeline of employers who are actively hiring, promoting and retaining people with disabilities. The employer side of that work is being formalized into a certification called the Inspiration Seal, currently in pilot while its criteria are developed. Organizations interested in the technology grant program can reach Jeremy Grandstaff directly at jgrandstaff@inspirationfoundation.org.

⬆︎ 14.) Sponsor: Luna AI

Sponsor Since: August 16, 2026 📅️

Website: https://trylunaai.com/ 🌐️

Study Line: +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️

WhatsApp: +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️

About: Luna AI is a voice-first AI tutor you reach the same way you would reach a friend, by picking up the phone and calling. There is no app to download, no account to create, and no screen to navigate. You dial, you say what you would like to learn, and Luna teaches you out loud. What makes it more than a talking search engine is the method behind it. Luna works through active recall, which means it asks the questions and listens to your answers rather than simply reading material at you. Testing yourself, and explaining an idea in your own words, is one of the most reliably effective study techniques in learning science, and a spoken conversation is the most natural way there is to do it. Founded in 2026 by Derek Fine, Luna AI is built for people who want to learn without a screen, including blind and low-vision students who want to work through their material independently from start to finish.

In practice, that means you can practise conversation, pronunciation and vocabulary in a new language, walk through a practical how-to step by step while your hands are busy, or turn a commute, a walk or a session at the gym into real study time. Subscribers can go further and build a Study Library from their own coursework, lecture notes, PDFs, transcripts and Quizlet sets, which Luna turns into spoken review sessions that quiz you until the material sticks. Topic-based study sessions are free, so there is nothing to install and nothing to sign up for before you try it: just call +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️ from any phone, anywhere in the world, at any hour, or reach Luna the same way on WhatsApp. Learn more at https://trylunaai.com/.

⬆︎ 13.) Sponsor: Even Though I’m Blind (ETIB)

Sponsor Since: August 10, 2026 📅️

Website: https://eventhoughimblind.com/ 🌐️

About: Even Though I’m Blind, Inc. (ETIB) is a blind-led media and advocacy organization founded by Cazerny Bussey, a Brooklyn-born recording artist, author, entrepreneur, speaker, and father of five who lost his eyesight at fifteen. The organization takes its name from a track on Bussey’s 2021 album Cfly 728, one of three records he has released since 2012. ETIB’s stated mission is to uplift blind and visually impaired people by creating platforms and experiences that inform, inspire, connect, and open doors — and it does so through a working set of properties rather than a single channel.

Those include the ETIB Experience, an interview podcast featuring blind entrepreneurs, artists, advocates and pageant titleholders; ETIB Radio, an internet stream that gives independent blind and visually impaired musicians genuine airplay; the Community Connect Directory, a staff-verified listing of businesses that are blind-owned, visually-impaired-owned, or that specifically serve blind and low vision people; Seen Through Sound, a community project collecting short recorded messages of encouragement; plus a blog and an events calendar. Bussey founded ETIB, in his words, to help people feel “visible, connected, informed, and empowered without using pity as the message.”

Home | About | Podcast | Radio | Blog | Directory | Events | Join ETIB | AI Chat | Donate

⬆︎ 12.) Sponsor: Blind Professionals Network (BPN)

Sponsor Since: April 13, 2026 📅️

Website: https://blindpronet.org/ 🌐️

Email: BPN@BlindProNet.org 📧️

Phone: +1 (800) 699-8238 📱️

About: Blind Professionals Network (BPN) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to advancing the professional success of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Fully staffed by BVI professionals, BPN’s wealth of education, passion, and lived experience leads the efforts in bridging the employment gap between talent and opportunity. Through our no cost professional development trainings, mentorship, and a dynamic network rooted in our core values of the acronym “SUCCESS”, we equip our members with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to thrive in today’s workforce. Complementing these premier services, our BPN Workplace Solutions division partners with employers to deliver custom Jaws training, accessibility testing, and professional development training to enhance inclusive hiring, training, and retention strategies. Together, these two focus areas unite to break barriers and achieve professional success.

BPN Workplace Solutions | Facebook | LinkedIn | Club House

⬆︎ 11.) Sponsor: Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI)

Sponsor Since: January 24, 2026 📅️

Website: https://i4sdi.org/ 🌐️

About: The Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI) is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 to help individuals and organizations build the capability to create workplaces, and communities, where diversity, equity, and inclusion are real, practical, and sustainable. ISDI’s work is grounded in evidence-based approaches and a long-term, systems-change mindset that goes beyond one-off trainings or performative efforts.

ISDI is best known for stewarding the Northwest Diversity Learning Series (NWDLS), a respected DEI education program with more than 27 years of impact, offering virtual, interactive workshops led by thought leaders and subject matter experts from across the country and Canada. ISDI also offers special events, small learning cohorts, and professional development sessions that equip leaders, HR/DEI practitioners, and employees with actionable skills for inclusive leadership and healthy dialogue across difference. In addition, ISDI provides consulting and curated resources to help organizations strengthen strategy, leadership accountability, and measurable progress toward more inclusive and equitable cultures.

About Us | Coalition | Contact Us | Consulting Services | Diversity Learning Series | Donate | News | Registration | Resources

BlueSky | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

⬆︎ 10.) Sponsor: The Blind Kitchen

Sponsor Since: January 15, 2026 📅️

Website: https://theblindkitchen.com/ 🌐️

About: The Blind Kitchen is an accessibility-driven culinary brand founded by legally blind chef and educator Debra Erickson. Built to help people with vision loss cook safely and confidently, The Blind Kitchen curates adaptive kitchen tools alongside clear, practical instruction, showing that losing sight doesn’t mean losing your place in the kitchen.

Through an intentionally accessible online experience and a growing library of step-by-step demos, tips, and strategies, The Blind Kitchen empowers blind and low-vision cooks (and the people who support them) to reclaim independence, creativity, and joy around food, because independence belongs in every kitchen.

Kitchen | Store | About the Chef | FAQs | Library | Recipes | Contact

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

⬆︎ 9.) Sponsor: The Cooking Without Looking TV Show

Sponsor Since: January 12, 2026 📅️

Website: https://cookingwithoutlookingtv.wordpress.com/ 🌐️

About: The Cooking Without Looking TV Show is an award-worthy, barrier-breaking TV show and podcast created and executive produced by Renée Rentmeester to change the way we see blindness, by showing blind and low-vision cooks doing what they love: preparing delicious meals with confidence, creativity, and humor. Originally launched on public television, the series has grown into a multi-platform experience that features talented hosts and guest cooks who share real-life kitchen strategies, adaptive techniques, and the kind of practical know-how that makes cooking feel possible, enjoyable, and empowering for everyone.

Designed with accessibility at its core, Cooking Without Looking goes beyond what’s on the screen. Episodes emphasize clear, descriptive instruction and sensory cues, sound, texture, aroma, and timing, so viewers and listeners can truly follow along, and recipes are shared in ways that support independence. Produced through the Vision World Foundation, the show also connects audiences with resources and community, proving week after week that great cooking isn’t about eyesight, it’s about skill, curiosity, and the joy of making something wonderful.

Home | Recipes & Tips | Contact | YouTube

⬆︎ 8.) Sponsor: Driven By Purpose Podcast

Sponsor Since: November 3, 2025 📅️

Website: https://thedrivenbypurposepodcast.com 🌐️

About: We’re building more than a media company — we’re cultivating a global movement where purpose drives progress.

What began as a mission to create employment for the 1 in 4 Americans living with disabilities has grown into a dynamic platform at the intersection of advocacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Our goal is simple: to amplify the voices, solutions, and stories that are driven by purpose.

At Driven by Purpose, we spotlight purpose-led businesses, breakthrough technologies, and human stories that challenge limits and redefine what’s possible. From adaptive innovations to inspiring leaders, we explore how purpose fuels progress and unlocks potential.

But this isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about taking action. Through powerful content, strategic partnerships, and accessible platforms, we’re building bridges between those who need solutions and those creating them.

⬆︎ 7.) Sponsor: Able News at The Viscardi Center

Sponsor Since: July 4, 2025 📅️

Website: https://ablenews.com 🌐️

Email: ablenews@viscardicenter.org 📧️

About: Able News at The Viscardi Center is a monthly periodical for, by, and about people with disabilities. It amplifies the perspective of a diverse disability community and reports on news, technology, sports, health and wellness, culture, travel, advocacy and opportunities to learn and connect. It is a valuable resource and brings readers disability news like no other source.

Read Able News

⬆︎ 6.) Sponsor: Aira

Sponsor Since: September 9, 2024 📅️

Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐️

Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store

Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/

Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️

Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📱️ | AU: +61.488.839.767 📱️ | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📱️

Email: support@aira.io 📧️

Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

About: Aira’s mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting.

We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone’s device of ‘choice’, a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera’s view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating – just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables.

Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free.
https://aira.io/download-and-try-it/

Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time.

Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works.

Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it.

⬆︎ 5.) Sponsor: Dr. Kirk Adams

Sponsor Since: July 22, 2024 📅️

Website: https://drkirkadams.com/ 🌐️

About: Dr. Kirk Adams is a visionary leader, transformative speaker, and lifelong advocate for disability inclusion. With over three decades of experience in advancing accessibility and creating opportunities for individuals who are blind or low-vision, Dr. Adams has become a powerful force for change in the areas of leadership, accessibility, and inclusion. His journey — from navigating vision loss as a young child to becoming a recognized thought leader in disability empowerment — uniquely equips him to help organizations understand, integrate, and champion inclusive practices that benefit all.

Dr. Adams is a highly sought-after speaker, known for his engaging and thought-provoking keynotes on disability inclusion, accessible leadership, and the power of resilience. He has spoken at numerous national and international conferences, including corporate seminars, public policy forums, and industry events, where his personal story and professional insights have inspired leaders to rethink their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. His passion lies in empowering organizations to create environments where every individual — regardless of ability — can thrive.

As a speaker, Dr. Adams brings authenticity, warmth, and a depth of experience that resonates with audiences from all backgrounds. He understands that true leadership is about more than just policy; it’s about creating cultural shifts that value each person’s unique contributions. Whether he is addressing a Fortune 500 company, a non-profit, or a community group, Dr. Adams’ message is clear: inclusion benefits everyone, and together we can build a world where opportunity is accessible to all.

Dr. Adams currently resides in Seattle, Washington, where he continues his advocacy work, builds strategic partnerships, and enjoys life with his family. He is proud to be a part of the movement towards a more inclusive future — one conversation at a time.

⬆︎ 4.) Sponsor: Barrier Free Canada

Sponsor Since: November 10, 2023 📅️

Website: https://barrierfreecanada.org/ 🌐️

About: Barrier-Free Canada/Canada Sans Barrieres (BFC/CSB) advocates for the Canadian Parliament to enact a strong and effective Canadians with Disabilities Act (CDA) to achieve a barrier-free Canada for all persons with disabilities.

To this end, BFC/CSB is seeking endorsements from national disability organizations to build a non-partisan community coalition. BFC/CSB would also like to identify point persons from these organizations to act as key contacts.

The steering committee of BFC/CSB has drafted a set of principles concerning a CDA that are drawn from the principles that underpin the provincial disability legislation in Ontario and Manitoba. A CDA is not meant to replace provincial disability legislation. It will complement such legislation and benefit Canadians living in provinces with and without provincial disability legislation. At this point in time, CNIB, March of Dimes Canada, Canadian Hearing Society and MS Society of Canada have endorsed the BFC/CSB principles and confirmed their support for the movement to enact a CDA. There is no individual or organizational charge for membership in BFC/CSB.

Please contact Donna Jodhan, Founder of Barrier-Free Canada, at info@barrierfreecanada.org 📧️ with any questions or to express your organization’s support and identify a key contact.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon (Search For: @news@mastodon.barrierfreecanada.org).

⬆︎ 3.) Sponsor: Hadley

Sponsor Since: September 18th 2023 📅️

Website: https://hadleyhelps.org/ 🌐️

Email: info@hadleyhelps.org 📧️

Phone: (800) 323-4238 📱️

Get Started: https://hadleyhelps.org/learn 🎓

What would you like to learn today?

Donate: https://hadleyhelps.org/donate/support-hadley ❤

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund its programs.

About: The mission of Hadley is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with vision loss or blindness to thrive — at home, at work, and in their communities.

Founded in 1920 by William Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life, Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who “get it.” And you don’t need to come to Hadley. Hadley’s help comes to you; online, on the phone or through the mail.

Since relaunching in July 2020, more than 70,000 people have signed up with Hadley, registering more than 200,000 workshop interactions. And our workshops have 98% satisfaction ratings. We reach all 50 states and more than 100 countries. And more people learn braille from Hadley than from any other organization worldwide.

Hadley is a proud partner of the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program.

Hadley’s help conveniently meets learners where they are. Free of wait lists. Free of office visits. Free of charge.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube

⬆︎ 2.) Sponsor: Eyes on Success

Sponsor Since: August 21, 2023 📅️

Website: https://eyesonsuccess.net/ 🌐️

About: This half-hour weekly podcast and radio program discusses products, services and daily living tips for people with vision loss. It is available through radio reading services across North America, via several internet streaming services, and to everyone else as a podcast. To date, the show has been downloaded in all 50 states in the US and over 100 other countries on all the inhabited continents. Eyes On Success is hosted and produced by Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey.

Each episode is basically a success story. Some are human stories of visually impaired people’s accomplishments in academics, employment, sports or pastimes. Others are descriptions of adaptive aids that enable visually impaired people to achieve things. These include screen readers, magnifiers, navigation aids, and others. In all cases, the focus is on success.

Eyes On Success has been airing weekly since January 2011. Prior to January 2013 the name of the show was ViewPoints. Other than the name, nothing has changed.

Listening To Eyes On Success

You can listen to Eyes On Success on your smart home device by saying “play the Eyes On Success podcast”, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, YouTube or your local radio reading service. Listeners can also follow the show on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).

Connecting with Eyes On Success

Email: To contact us with questions, comments or suggestions for future shows send an e-mail to hosts@EyesOnSuccess.net 📧️.

Weekly Announcements: If you would like to receive weekly announcements of upcoming episodes, you can join our low traffic “announcements only” list by sending an e-mail to: EyesOnSuccess+subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️.

Email Forum: If you would like to connect with other listeners and share your thoughts about what you’ve heard on the show, you can join our listener email forum by sending an email to: EOS_Discuss+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️

⬆︎ 1.) Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions

Sponsor Since: November 7th 2022 📅️

Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐️

Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education.

Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️

Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️

About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We’re proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it’s a right. It’s also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive?

Contact us here. We’ll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs.

⬆︎ 16.) Sponsor: National Organization on Disability

Sponsor Since: September 21, 2026 📅️

Website: https://nod.org/ 🌐️

About: National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a nonprofit that works with large employers to increase the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities. It was founded in 1982, growing out of the United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons, by Alan A. Reich, the first person to address the UN General Assembly from a wheelchair. In the four decades since, it has moved from broad public-awareness work toward a business-to-business focus, presenting disability inclusion as a question of business performance rather than charity. That posture is captured in the organization’s own line, “Unlocking human potential. Enhancing business performance.” Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and led by President and Chief Executive Officer Beth Sirull, National Organization on Disability earns most of its support from the employers it serves rather than from individual donors.

Its employer work runs on four connected programs. The Leadership Council is a paid corporate membership network, currently listing 35 member organizations, offering access to disability-inclusion specialists, talent-acquisition support, peer networking and public recognition. EnAble Learning — with memberships available for individuals as well as corporate packages — is an on-demand training platform whose self-paced courses cover disability fundamentals, neurodiversity at work, managing teams through rising mental-health challenges, and accessibility in artificial intelligence and emerging technology. The Disability Inclusion Network is a professional membership for individuals seeking disability inclusion insights, peer connections, and actionable tools to positively impact their workplaces. A Speakers Bureau books disability advocates, athletes, creators and staff for corporate events and employee resource group meetings. NOD also conducts federal policy advocacy and research, the latter increasingly through a federally funded university consortium studying disability employment policy. In support of every organization’s unique goals, NOD offers à la carte services and creates packages that fit your needs. Offerings include employee workshops, talent acquisition process audits, and executive search strategy sessions. Employers can contact NOD at development@nod.org for more information.

⬆︎ 17.) Sponsor: Your Name Here

Sponsor Since: Today 📅️

Website: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsorship-packages/ 🌐️

Phone: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

Email: news@accessinformationnews.com 📧️

About: Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world’s leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 49,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here.

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As of November 7, 2022 the distribution of Access Information News is made possible by our Sponsors, our Supporters, our Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced marketing administration and consultation services.

Any time the Access Information News Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.

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Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi

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Publisher Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)

In addition to serving as Publisher for Access Information News Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters, PR-Director for the AT-Newswire Press Release News Distribution Service, and President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Access Information News on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP
Email: publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
Toll-Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP

Email: publisher@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
Toll Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

PR Director (2024-Present)
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Editor: John Hanlin

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Editor Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Boulder, Colorado

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News John also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and low-vision persons.

John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

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Editor (2024-Present)
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Editor: Jenna Lang

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Editor Since: November 7, 2022

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and runs her own advocacy foundation.

Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Jenna’s son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.

Jenna Lang, PMP

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Editor: Vicki Walton

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Editor Since: January 9, 2024

Location: Benton City, WA

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-8/GMT-7)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Vicki also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits publication and works as a Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

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Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world’s leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 49,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week, along with the caregivers, companies and organizations that serve and support them. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here. Access Information refers to informational topics that directly affect the lives of people with disabilities. Access Information includes any and all information related to bettering the lives of people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang and Vicki Walton. Access Information News is a sponsor, reader and advertiser supported publication.

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Article abstracts are intentionally concise. As a result we know that some readers may not always understand all of the items listed because little explanation is given. If a particular article brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and we will try to answer as time and knowledge permit.

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