Europe, December 17 2020
Leonard Cheshire has worked with online travel agency Expedia Group to produce a roadmap for the travel industry to be more inclusive and accessible for disabled people. The two organisations commissioned the ‘Breaking Down Barriers to Travel’ report to call on the travel industry to be more inclusive of disabled… Continue Reading »
Asia-Pacific, Built Environment, Tourism, December 10 2020
VIETNAM: Entrances accessible to ambulant disabled people will be created in beaches along Da Nang City’s 30-km coastline, the city’s authorities said on Sunday. The work to install 24 such entrances at popular tourist beaches on Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Sa, Truong Sa, and Nguyen Tat Thanh streets was approved at… Continue Reading »
Global, Tourism, December 9 2020
Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a “game changer” for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The organization is aiming to make clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of… Continue Reading »
Assistive Technology, Disaster, Global, Tourism, December 3 2020
Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible… Continue Reading »
Asia-Pacific, Disaster, News, December 2 2020
A major milestone has been achieved today as Fiji takes lead in the world to validate the Target E data of the 2015 Sendai Framework. “Target E is a measure that estimates the number of countries and local actors that have Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies in place. Its goal… Continue Reading »
Europe, Events, November 30 2020
UNITED KINGDOM: Law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp has launched ‘Design the Change’, formerly called ‘Getting Back on Track’. The Student design competition intended to encourage innovation and raise awareness of the day-to-day challenges facing people with spinal cord injuries. The competition, which closes in April 2021, is offering winners a £3,000 prize, plus… Continue Reading »
Global, November 27 2020
The International Disability Alliance presents its Global Survey on Participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in Development Programmes and Policies – Edition 2020. This new report presents the findings of the first-ever global survey led by OPDs on their participation in decision making processes of governments, the UN system and… Continue Reading »
Disaster, Global, November 24 2020
The Gap Analysis was commissioned by Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance (ELRHA) to build the evidence base on inclusion and to inform priorities for innovation. This was the first ever piece of work to systematically review the evidence on the inclusion of people with disability and older people across… Continue Reading »
Americas, Built Environment, November 24 2020
CANADA: The federal government, through the National Housing Strategy (NHS) delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is providing $190,000 in funding to the CSA Group to support research and develop a national standard for affordable, adaptable, and accessible homes across the country. “Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to… Continue Reading »
Asia-Pacific, Built Environment, November 22 2020
TAIWAN: The city of New Taipei will open Taiwan’s first baseball and softball fields designed for people with disabilities at a riverside park in Shulin District on Sunday (Nov. 22), according to a city official. The city built the accessible fields in Lujiaoxi riverside park to cater to the growing number… Continue Reading »
Americas, Built Environment, Universal Design, November 22 2020
CANADA: While the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the need for safe housing, Ontarians with disabilities have always lived with the harsh reality that their housing choices are extremely limited, chronically inaccessible and often substandard and unsafe. One in seven Ontarians have a disability. Yet, Ontarians with disabilities routinely face discriminatory… Continue Reading »
Asia-Pacific, Built Environment, November 21 2020
INDIA: The Punjab Cabinet today approved the ‘Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojana’ to provide a barrier-free environment to persons with disabilities by making government and public-centric buildings, public transportation and websites accessible to them. The Punjab Cabinet today approved the ‘Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojana’ to provide a barrier-free environment to persons with… Continue Reading »
Asia-Pacific, November 20 2020
INDIA: Global development organisation Sightsavers along with European Disability Forum (EDF) is implementing a project for empowering people with disabilities. This project is being supported by the European Union. Disabled women around the globe are more marginalised economically than disabled men or non-disabled women. This is based on both their gender… Continue Reading »
Built Environment, Europe, Tourism, November 12 2020
GREECE: Work is underway to create a path for wheelchair users, elderly citizens and others with mobility problems to see the Acropolis in Athens up close. The project is funded by the Onassis Foundation, which also donated the improved Acropolis illuminations. However, the cement on the archaeological site, stirred reactions on social media. In… Continue Reading »
Americas, Misc., November 11 2020
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 »
Assistive Technology, Events, Global, November 10 2020
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 »
Africa, News, November 6 2020
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 »
Europe, Transportation, November 3 2020
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 »
Asia-Pacific, Misc., News, October 28 2020
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 »
Africa, Disaster, October 23 2020
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 »