Headline News

U.S.A: The World Games 2022 has joined Lakeshore Foundation in a new initiative for disability inclusion and access with A Journey to One World, One Games. What is the World Games? The World Games is an Olympic-style sports experience where elite athletes from all over the world compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports.… Continue Reading »

The WHO Online Master Training Workshop for Measuring Access to Assistive Technology will take place on 17-19 November 2020. The workshop is an integral part of the development of the WHO-UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT). The resolution on improving access to assistive technology (WHA71.8) mandates WHO to develop the global report in the context… Continue Reading »

GHANA: Most Def Foundation, a Ghanaian organisation that exists to support deaf teens and young adults was officially launched at the Antique Lemonade Art Space in Accra on Wednesday. Speaking at the launch, Founder, Franka-Maria Andoh described the launch as “one of the new beginnings for this year.” According to her,… Continue Reading »

Micromobility firm Tier will add artificial warning sounds to its fleet of e-scooters to alert blind and partially sighted people of their approach. The European e-scooter operator said it plans to roll the sound alert out across its vehicles in 2021.  Tier is working with national charity Thomas Pocklington Trust,… Continue Reading »

INDIA: Ride hailing major Uber on Tuesday said it has partnered with the National Association for the Blind (NAB), Delhi to facilitate 12,000 free rides (worth over Rs 25 lakhs) to blind, low-vision and other disabled persons, as well as their caregivers and teachers. The association, which will be valid from… Continue Reading »

JAMAICA: A survival guide produced in Braille for persons who are blind or living with vision impairment was unveiled at a handover ceremony recently as part of an effort to ensure that they are not left behind when disaster strikes. The ceremony at the Salvation Army School for the Blind and… Continue Reading »

The UN has released a report on implementing its Disability Inclusion Strategy, providing a “first baseline on the status of disability inclusion” across the UN system. The Strategy was launched in June 2019 in the context of the 2030 Agenda’s principle of leaving no one behind. The Strategy aims to… Continue Reading »

Ceremony of depositing the instrument on joining the ‘Marrakesh Treaty’ by Turkmenistan was held in Geneva.  On the 15th of October, 2020, the ceremony of presenting the Instrument on Turkmenistan’s joining the “Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print… Continue Reading »

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published its 2019 Disabled Passenger Satisfaction Survey. The annual survey, now in its second year, has again been carried out to find out from those of reduced mobility about their personal journeys using ferry or cruise ship transport. The survey ran for a… Continue Reading »

Amendments to the Nova Scotia Building Code come into effect on Oct. 31 requiring any new restaurants, cafés, lunch counters and delis to be accessible to all Nova Scotians. In order to get a food safety permit, any new restaurant with seating will need to have accessible entrances, pathways and washrooms. These… Continue Reading »

Caritas Macau has plans to run a travel agency as a social enterprise to help people with disabilities go on trips, Caritas Macau Secretary General Paul Pun Chi Meng said on Monday. Pun made the remarks during Monday’s press conference about the 51st Caritas Macau Charity Bazaar. The press conference… Continue Reading »

The DARE Index 2020 features an upgraded data collection, with 137 individual country report cards, an expanded methodology, advance analysis, and two key report highlights in four languages.   ATLANTA: The Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict) announces the release of the second edition of the Digital Accessibility… Continue Reading »

Irish disability law expert Professor Gerard Quinn has been appointed as the UN rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. A qualified barrister and prominent legal academic, he is professor emeritus in law at NUI Galway, where he previously directed the world-leading Centre on International Disability Law & Policy. His appointment to succeed… Continue Reading »

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has published a report that focuses on articles 5 to 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which substantiate the rights of persons with disabilities and the associated obligations of governments. One of the… Continue Reading »

TAIWAN: The government should establish a dedicated agency that promotes and oversees senior care services, the Federation for the Welfare of the Elderly said on Tuesday, ahead of yesterday’s International Day of Older Persons. Discussions about senior care in Taiwan normally do not go beyond the government’s long-term care policy… Continue Reading »

Care Direct Technology has announced the commercial release of its suite of assistive technology products designed to make independent living more achievable for those who need extra help around the home. The release includes a set of IoT home sensors, a smartwatch, personal alarm, reactive cameras with a two-way microphone,… Continue Reading »

AUSTRALIA: The Queensland state government has established a new Accessible Transport Advisory Council to give input on accessibility for transport projects around the state. The Council would advocate on behalf of those with vision, hearing, physical, or cognitive impairments, as well as older people, parents, and youth justice groups. The… Continue Reading »

New measures designed to help the five percent of drivers with a disability include guides to motorway service areas with 360-degree images. Highways England plans to make it easier for disabled motorists to use UK motorways and A-roads. More than 100 service areas will be assessed on the accessibility of… Continue Reading »

The WHO has developed a Priority Assistive Products List (APL) to assist Member States in planning policies and programmes related to the provision of assistive products. The British Assistive Technology Association in collaboration WHO-GATE have launched this survey to identify the UK’s most essential Assistive Products List. This will help us define our own national priorities… Continue Reading »

CANADA: Accessibility Standards Canada creates and reviews accessibility standards for federally regulated organizations. It also supports and promotes innovative research that aims to identify and eliminate barriers, and to prevent new ones. Accessibility Standards Canada recently launched their first online consultation! Have your say. Take the Survey: Priorities for engagement, accessibility… Continue Reading »