My passion for accessible technology was ignited sixteen years ago at the University of North Carolina when I was a Computer Science undergraduate. I worked on a small team software project with a graduate student, Jason Morris, who was blind and needed access to maps of the ancient world for his research in the Classics […]
Introduction In March 2018, Microsoft released Soundscape — a free iOS app that uses 3D audio to help visually impaired people create a mental map of what is around. The app works by allowing users to set an audio “beacon” (the destination). Once that is done, a rhythmic “thump” sound will come from the direction […]
On May 1, 2018, Accessibility NYC hosted a meetup entitled “LinkNYC Accessibility.” Presenters Ruth Fasoldt, Kevin Green and Emily Pease described LinkNYC, a first-of-its-kind communications network replacing over 7,500 pay phones across the five boroughs with new structures called Links. They provided a live demonstration of LinkNYC’s services and accessibility features as well as the […]
I presented to the Disability Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association on April 19th, 2018. The Disability Law Committee was interested in gaining an understanding of common issues that people with disabilities encounter with technology. The State of New York is busy with Americans with Disabilities Act Title III Lawsuits, “having almost […]
Grace Jun is a designer, educator, and social entrepreneur based in New York. By merging fashion with technology, she pushes the boundaries of universal design to be inclusive of disability and aging. When did you first get started in accessibility? I can recall my first introduction to accessibility in two ways: (1) Design & (2) […]
On April 3, 2018, Accessibility NYC hosted a meetup entitled “Uniquely Normal: Tapping the Reservoir of Normalcy to Treat Autism.” Presenter Robert J. Bernstein, Counselor and Author, described his theories and techniques for treating people of all ages with ASD. He shared case studies of clients that experienced remarkable breakthroughs with his techniques, demonstrating the […]
This past Saturday, Equal Entry attended the March Monthly Music Hackathon NYC, where this month’s theme was “Music AccessAbility.” The goal of the event was to make music-making and consumption easier and more enjoyable for people with disabilities, as well as raise awareness about the needs of people with disabilities broadly to more effectively navigate […]
This installment of our Accessibility Activists column is an interview with Tim Springer, CEO of Level Access. He also led the development of InFocus, the first commercial software for testing web accessibility. When did you first get started in accessibility? In 1999. The initial business plan for what became Level Access was to build a […]
On March 20th, Accessibility NYC hosted a meetup entitled “Diversity and Inclusion in the Arts.” Presenter Stephanie Barton-Farcas, Founder and Artistic Director of Nicu’s Spoon Theater Company, described ways to maximize disabled artists in the arts. She also shared ideas for real-world problem solving, action plans, and how we might reconsider artists and disability in […]
Thomas Logan, Equal Entry CEO, recently gave a presentation at Princeton University about accessible pedestrian signal devices (APS), which you can read about in a previous post. Logan worked with entrepreneur Chuck Groom to design and build a custom APS at a low cost. The design is free to share and reuse. Check out this […]