Headline News

GERMANY: Berlin has introduced a law elevating the status of pedestrians and making its mobility ecosystem more usable for wheelchair users and the visually impaired. The so-called ‘pedestrian law’– an amendment of the city’s 2018 Mobility Act – was passed by the state parliament at the end of January and is the first… Continue Reading »

CANADA: In collaboration with ARCH Disability Centre, TRU with the help of the University of Windsor will pursue a new research project on the effects of COVID-19. TRU’s Dr. Ruby Dhand, a professor in the Faculty of Law, has partnered with Dr. Dipesh Prema, a TRU chemistry professor, and Dr. Tess… Continue Reading »

INDIA: The basic public amenities like drinking water, toilets, signages, etc. are available at most of the Centrally Protected Monuments including World Heritage Sites. Further, wheelchairs, ramps, Braille cultural notice boards and disabled friendly public amenities have been provided to make these sites accessible to persons with disabilities. Following steps have… Continue Reading »

Americas: If you have a body, you are an athlete – according to the sports brand Nike, that is. It’s an inclusive outlook from a brand that is closely associated with elite athletes at the very peak of their physical prowess. And with the unveiling of the latest iteration of… Continue Reading »

CANADA: Funding for two projects that will modernize and improve accessibility for Peel Region’s public transit system was announced by the Honorable Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General of Ontario and Member of Provincial Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, on behalf of the Honorable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s… Continue Reading »

NEW ZEALAND: A new report from New Zealand’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) highlights the realities and challenges disabled people faced during the COVID-19 emergency. The report, Making Disability Rights Real in a Pandemic, Te Whakatinana i ngā Tika Hauātanga i te wā o te Urutā, examines New Zealand’s adherence to the United… Continue Reading »

The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, with support by the U.S. Department of Transportation, invites your participation in the 16th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (TRANSED), themed Inclusive and Accessible Transportation in Community and Regional… Continue Reading »

Fast Retailing’s flagship Uniqlo Tokyo store has large fitting rooms that can accommodate wheelchairs. AKANE OKUTSU, Nikkei staff writerJanuary 21, 2021 14:10 JST TOKYO — Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing plans to expand employment of staffers with disabilities in Asia, in an effort to improve store services and product offerings as… Continue Reading »

SOUTH AFRICA: The Health Systems Trust’s annual health review has been released. The 300-page document focuses on the challenges peoples with disabilities face when accessing healthcare services. Health24 has summarised some of the most important points of the report: A transformative approach to disability awareness driven by persons with disabilities The report says… Continue Reading »

  Anatoliy D. Popko leads “Dialogue in the Dark” Moscow team and consults Bank of Russia and other prominent financial, cultural, and government institutions. Mr. Popko is a co-author of Russian national standard on digital accessibility based on WCAG 2.1. Accessible ICT and effective communication are two passions, thus he… Continue Reading »

INDIA: McDonald’s India unveils new EATQUAL packaging specially designed for customers with limited upper hand mobility – Becomes the first brand in the industry to undertake such an initiative McDonald’s EatQual McDonald’s India West and South, that announced the launch of EatQual – a special pack for customers with limited hand… Continue Reading »

AUSTRALIA: This research initiative by the Centre for Technology Infusion (CTI) at La Trobe University, and supported by the AFDO, will utilise a short-term focus group to discuss ‘Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies’ (such as driverless cars) to identify ways these emerging technologies can improve personal and public transport options… Continue Reading »

UK: Regulators, local authorities and industry groups will need to incorporate the views and priorities of disabled groups in their early planning phase if the promise – and full market value – of advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems are to be fully realised, according to a white… Continue Reading »

UK: The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has called on the UK government to make a series of changes to make housing more accessible for those with limited mobility, as well as more adaptable as their needs change with age. The committee recently published a report, which outlines a… Continue Reading »

ICELAND: A new accessibility fund will provide financial support to Reykjavík businesses who want to increase the accessibility of their establishments. The fund was spearheaded by entrepreneur Haraldur Þorleifsson in collaboration with city authorities. Founder of design company Ueno, which was recently purchased by Twitter, Haraldur is a wheelchair user himself… Continue Reading »

Pakistan: World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative in Pakistan, Dr Palitha Mahipala on Thursday handed over assistive devices to the government of Balochistan for persons with disability. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Palitha said that WHO is working with the Government of Pakistan to advocate change and public awareness regarding disability and… Continue Reading »

PERU: Texts adapted to the braille system will be delivered this year, reported the Ministry of Education. During 2020, the Ministry of Education, through the Directorate of Special Basic Education (DEBE), produced more than 1,100 accessible audios and about 500 educational materials adapted to the Braille system for girls, boys,… Continue Reading »

USA: NHTSA believes its proposed rule will make life a lot easier for people with disabilities, especially those using a wheelchair. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday proposed a new rule that should make mobility far more accessible to those living with disabilities, especially those using a wheelchair. The government… Continue Reading »

GARI Design Challenge – 2,500€ for helping people with disabilities easier find what they are looking for The Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) established the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI) in 2008 to provide information on the accessibility features in today’s devices. GARI now features an online database with information… Continue Reading »

MALAYSIA: The Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Communication Unit which will be launched next year is aimed at improving the delivery of service and information to the community nationwide. Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the unit will work closely with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in various… Continue Reading »