Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

Learn more about Global Accessibility Awareness day on the latest episode of Nation’s Blind Podcast from the National Federation of the Blind! Join host Anil Lewis and his guest for a deep dive into the work of the NFB’s Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA). Meet the team behind the work of this center and learn about the events and trainings provided, as well as resources like the International Braille and Technology Center, Accessibility Switchboard, and more.

Listen Here!

Hey there everyone, this morning’s blog post is all about GAAD.  What is GAAD you may ask, well GAAD, more commonly known as Global Accessibility Awareness Day, is an international effort to alert people about the importance of digital accessibility for all global citizens.  GAAD came about when web developer Joe Devon wrote a blog post about making accessibility awareness mainstream for web devs and the importance of creating an international awareness day back in 2011.   Joe’s blog post was certainly a catalyst and shortly after adding this post, an accessibility evangelist by the name of Jennison Ascuncion joined forces with Joe to market the concept of a global awareness day.  

GAAD has now become an extremely important event that is celebrated across the globe.  The level of participation by large IT solutions companies has increased the attention and visibility of this day.  As accessibility becomes more and more mainstream we hope that every IT solutions company makes accessibility one of their core values of their respective IT products.   

Thanks for reading,

Andrew Drummond

About 2.4 percent of Americans have a visual disability, according to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). This rate may be much higher when you include people that are not necessarily blind but have a vision issue.

The 2018 National Health Interview Survey found through estimating that more than 32 million adults nationwide have reported having some degree of vision loss. This figure includes people that cannot see at all and others that experience blurred vision despite using therapeutic eyewear.

The challenge for the millions of people with a visual impairment is how they can effectively use the internet for e-learning, shopping, remote working, business, and other key aspects of their everyday living.

So it’s clear that optimal web accessibility for many of them is vital for everyday life.

View full article here for the following sections:

-What are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines?
-Vision Conditions That Cause People to Struggle
-What Makes the Internet Challenging?
-Tips for Easier Browsing
-Accessories That Can Help
-Why It Matters
-How to Make Things More Accessible
-Moving Forward
-References

Article contributed by myvision.org

What’s Ahead For Your Child & Future Generations Transition Planning & Special Needs Trusts

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

6:00pm-7:00pm via Zoom

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Register HERE by May 9, 2022

(Zoom link will be forwarded to you the day before the webinar)

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Topics Include:

• Transition planning
• Government benefits
• Supported decision making
• Estate planning
• Special needs trust
• When to include a trust as part of your estate plan

Presenter

Mary E. O’Byrne, Esq.

O’Byrne Law, LLC

President of the Special Needs Alliance

MARY E. O’BYRNE is a Maryland attorney in private practice concentrating on special needs and estate planning for people with disabilities and their families, including asset protection and management, public benefits counseling, medical decision-making, and other legal issues arising from disability and aging. She is a frequent lecturer on these topics for professional and lay audiences.

Joined by:

Claudia Nichols Cunningham

Chief Advancement Officer, Benedictine Foundation

For questions, please contact Ashley Hinch, Grants and Planned Giving Coordinator at Ashley.hinch@benschool.org or 410-634-2292 Ext. 1121 Benedictine Foundation, 14299 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, MD 21660