Headline News

Tokyo, Japan: The universal design principles incorporated into the passenger areas at Haneda Airport’s new international terminal have been acclaimed as world class and can serve as a blueprint for integrated “barrier-free” facilities in similar facilities around the world. So much thought has gone into the design of the airport,… Continue Reading »

Jakarta, Indonesia: Beni Kusuma continues to drive despite a stroke that paralyzed him 20 years ago. He says that Jakarta discriminates against disabled people behind the wheel. Beni criticized top administration officials on Monday for not designating parking spots for disabled people. “Many public buildings have no special parking areas… Continue Reading »

Chandigarh, India: Life is not easy for disabled people in Chandigarh, moreso if they plan to move around the city as they face several roadblocks everywhere. Whether it is enjoying the beauty of the parks or going out for shopping or simply commuting on their own, disabled people find it… Continue Reading »

European disability rights movements were flabbergasted on hearing that a high United Nations disability representative was prohibited by Swissair from boarding a flight that would have taken him from London to Geneva. The passenger, the UN Special Rapporteur on disability, Shuaib Chalklen, who is a wheelchair user, was not allowed… Continue Reading »

The European Commission vowed Wednesday to strengthen the travel rights of disabled people, after a UN disability expert who uses a wheelchair complained that he was barred from a Swiss airline flight. Shuaib Chalklen, the United Nations special rapporteur on disability, was told by the airline that he could not… Continue Reading »

A Chinese website portal was launched Tuesday to provide the country’s nearly 83 million disabled people with better access to information services. Sponsored by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), the website, www.cdpsn.org.cn, is the country’s first national-level online portal specializing in serving the disabled. Besides publishing information regarding job… Continue Reading »

RICHMOND – Two years ago, DLA Aviation began the process of upgrading all of its deaf and hearing-impaired employees from the old and obsolete telephone typewriter, or TTY communications device to the more technically advanced videophones. Recently, the last three DLA Aviation deaf employees received their videophones, completing the issue… Continue Reading »

The EU is under pressure to enforce equality rules on airlines as increasing numbers of disabled people, including a UN disability rights monitor, are being refused travel because they are in a wheelchair. Shuaib Chalklen, the UN’s “special rapporteur on disability” has complained to the European Commission after he was… Continue Reading »

Boise, ID USA: People with impaired vision have some new high-tech help crossing the street on the Boise State University (BSU) campus. The audible pedestrian crossings are at University Drive and Lincoln Avenue, and at University and Joyce. “Automobiles have become so much quieter and intersection crossings have become more… Continue Reading »

Researchers announce their application of a unique computer pointing device, or mouse/keyboard replacement, to operate one’s computer. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers announced on Sunday their application of a unique computer pointing device, or mouse/keyboard replacement, to operate one’s computer. The student team, Ori Ossmy, Ofir Tam and Ariel… Continue Reading »

Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Hackensack could well be the first church in North Jersey to offer captions for hearing impaired. Sunday, which was Palm Sunday, was the second time it has been offered during a Holy Trinity Mass. The captioning, offered twice a month and displayed on a large… Continue Reading »

Tulsa, Oklahoma: Tulsa’s self-evaluation of its Americans with Disabilities Act compliance has revealed nearly $23 million in necessary modifications for public buildings, parks, sidewalks, intersections and bus stops. The city’s initial transition plan was completed two years after the passage of the 1990 civil rights law mandating equal access for… Continue Reading »

London 2012 transport plans are on track but there is no room for complacency, members of the London Assembly have warned. However, concerns have been raised about issues of disabled access with only a quarter of Tube stations and one-third of rail stations have step-free access from station to platform.… Continue Reading »

JAIPUR, India: Cricket may have won today at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS) and people had the best of their times, but for 25-year-old cricket fan Somya Dawar, it was a disappointing day. She had valid passes but could not watch the match as the stands were not “equipped” and did… Continue Reading »

Terre Haute, Ind. : The hearing impaired get some help from a new invention by Rose Hulman students. Students at the school created an indication system that helps those with hearing loss to know when somebody is calling. The electronic system makes a lamp flash when the person receives an… Continue Reading »

Jetstar is facing more criticism of its wheelchair policy after it refused to fly some of New Zealand’s top disabled athletes. Paralympics New Zealand was told only two out of a team of eight of its athletes were allowed on board a Jetstar-operated Qantas flight from Darwin in May, regardless… Continue Reading »

The iPhone has been praised for its wide range of accessibility features, but the recent launch of theZoomReader app just firmly sealed the iPhone’s leadership for anyone requiring a little visual assistance. ZoomReader features a combination of live video magnification, OCR functionality and a naturally sounding text-to-speech solution, making iPhone… Continue Reading »

Taipei: President Ma Ying-jeou on Tuesday praised the strides Taiwan has made in developing a barrier-free environment to promote accessible tourism but acknowledged that more needs to be done. Speaking at the 4th International Conference on Accessible Tourism in Taipei, Ma said Taiwan was working to create an environment where… Continue Reading »

A woman smacked Steve Stokes in the head with her purse, knocking him out of his wheelchair. She told him he shouldn’t be out in public, that he belonged in a nursing home. Oklahoma colleges improve accessibility, services for students with disabilities Stokes was a college student in the late… Continue Reading »

SEATTLE, Apr 09: U.S. computer scientists say a free software program can help people with motor disabilities who have trouble using a computer mouse. The Pointing Magnifier, developed by researchers at the University of Washington, combines a large area cursor with visual and motor magnification, reducing need for fine, precise… Continue Reading »