Headline News

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 »

SPAIN:  The Fundación Mutua de Propietarios presents ‘Zero Barreras’ , the first application for mobile devices that allows to easily measure the degree of accessibility of the common elements of a building, identifying the architectural barriers that a person with reduced mobility must face when accessing it. Thanks to the implementation of… Continue Reading »

1. Ahmed Irash, Maldives  Building a ramp at the main beach in Male City, Maldives: There is a new initiative that will take place in Maldives which will be to build a ramp to the beach to increase accessibility for all including persons with disabilities and special needs, who use artificial… Continue Reading »

NEW ZEALAND: Alzheimers NZ wants more focus on designing buildings, particularly commercial and government buildings, to reflect the needs of people affected by dementia. Chief executive Catherine Hall says buildings cater for physically disabled people – they should also cater for people with cognitive disabilities like dementia. “We’ve seen great progress… Continue Reading »

On September 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) launched the world’s most comprehensive report on dementia-related design and the built environment. The first of its kind, the World Alzheimer Report 2020 is the most comprehensive and in-depth look at dementia related design and the built environment. It looks… Continue Reading »

THAILAND: National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP), and Department of Older Persons (DOP) signed in an MoU to support the development of the innovations for empowering the older people and persons with disabilities. In the initial stage, there are a few inventions that… Continue Reading »

It is with grave concern that the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) calls on governments to take immediate emergency measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to food, medication, and other essential supplies. Analysis by the COVID-19 DRM has revealed that government failure to take measures to protect the… Continue Reading »