Description This session walks through how to design, test, and remediate digital documents so they’re usable with assistive technology and aligned with the new ADA Title II technical standard, WCAG 2.1 AA. We’ll cover accessibility basics in Word, PowerPoint, and Canva (headings, styles, color contrast, typography, alt text, links, tables, reading order), how to export...
Description Most digital technologies are still built and released then remediated for accessibility later--an expensive, inefficient, and exclusionary process. In contrast, the born-accessible approach ensures that accessibility is built in from the start, by involving people with disabilities at every stage of design, development, and procurement. This user-centered strategy improves productivity, enhances user experience, reduces...
Description Join the Great Lakes and Southwest ADA Centers for a legal update and discussion on what laws protect health-related protected information and medical records. Diego Demaya, J.D., and Vinh Nguyen, J.D., with the Southwest ADA Center will review how the ADA, HIPAA, ACA, and other laws may or may not protect the disclosure of...
Description When it comes to trained service animals, Titles II and III of the ADA contain clearly defined rules. However, under Title I, any request related to employment—including a modification to a no-pets policy—must be addressed as a reasonable accommodation request. Accommodations can include allowing modified schedules, remote work, a service animal and, yes, even...
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has a new report, "Health Care Accessibility: Further Efforts Needed to Address Barriers for People with Disabilities." It found that people with disabilities face barriers related to accessibility in health care, including the design of medical settings and equipment, technology, communication with providers, and a lack of training. The...
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has a new Workplace Accommodation Toolkit to help employers manage workplace accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Toolkit provides: Step-by-step guidance through the accommodation process Checklists, forms, and templates Practical tools for documentation and communication Training resources to build internal...
Governor Newsom signed SB 707, which modernizes the Brown Act and expands public meeting access. It includes changes designed to increase public participation and remote teleconferencing access. The bill mainly goes into effect on January 1, 2026, with some parts going into effect on July 1, 2026. The Brown Act was enacted in 1953 to...
