Posts by Jennifer Skulski
Accessibility Management: Why Do You Do What You Do?
Last week while working on a new accessibility assessment project I had the unbelievable good fortune to make the acquaintance of Mr. Clarence Johnston of southern Ohio. Mr. Johnston has a soft voice, beautiful smile and a passion for fishing. From across the waterfront, he was mesmerizing. Of course, from the photos here, many would think it…
Read MoreWhat is Accessibility Management? Utilizing the Process to Make Change Happen!
Accessibility management is the practice and process of implementing federal, state, and local disability legislation to ensure people with disabilities will have the equal opportunity to participate and benefit in all of your programs, services and activities. Whenever possible, accessibility management promotes the concept of going above and beyond minimum compliance with accessibility regulations and…
Read MoreFor the Love of Accessibility & Inclusion
It’s February! Valentine’s Day is here and love is in the air! You know what I love? I love. Love. LOVE! talking about accessibility, universal design and inclusion! I’m an accessibility-geek. But like the saying goes….Do what you love! Love what you do! I love that I have been able to talk to so many…
Read More29 and counting! Recommitting to the Spirit and Intent of the ADA
The fashion was flannel, neon and scrunchies. The music was grunge. The top box office was Home Alone, Goodfellas and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Oil hit a record $40/barrel. Gas sold for $1.08 and a postage stamp was 25 cents. Seinfeld premiered. The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. And President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law.…
Read More7 Ways to Celebrate the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act is turning 29 on July 26. How are you going to celebrate? As we age, we don’t celebrate birthdays and anniversaries as frequently as when we were kids. We tend to only pop open the champagne and celebrate the big ones, those divisible by 5 or 10. That’s okay. Everyone…
Read MoreOur Favorite TED Talks on Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion
CONFESSION: We LOVE a good TED Talk. Even better…..we LOVE LOVE LOVE a good TED Talk on disability rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. So….we thought we would share some of our favorites here. Our fight for disability rights and why we’re not done yet Judith Heumann | TEDxMidAtlantic It’s incredibly important for people…
Read MoreThe ADA at 29: Things That Didn’t Happen to Parks & Recreation
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, it caused a lot of concern and consternation in the field of Parks and Recreation. Honestly, people freaked out a little bit, worse than Leslie Knope on a waffle binge. There were a lot of arguments about how NOT to make programs, services and activities…
Read MoreAre Your Applications and Registration Forms Too Nosy?
What do the cities of DeKalb, Fallon, Isle of Palms, and Vero Beach have in common? All four cities have recently entered into settlement agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice for disability-related questions on their employment applications. When applications and registration forms are too nosy, they illicit too much information — information that could lead to intentional or unintentional discrimination on…
Read MoreIs Your “Smart City” REALLY Accessible?
How are your city planners working to make a “Smart City” ACCESSIBLE and INCLUSIVE of people with disabilities? Is the use of new technology really accessible or is it putting up new roadblocks for people with disabilities? In MIT’s Technology Review, Elizabeth Woyke explains how Smart cities could be lousy to live in if you have…
Read More“Access” Documentary Filmmaker Shares Man’s “Typical Day” Wayfinding with Technology
Storyteller and filmmaker Chris Higgins has released a short documentary about accessibility. It follows Cory Joseph through a typical day, showing how he uses his smartphone, Braille display, tactile watch, and guide dog to navigate the world. Higgins describes the film making experience in his blog, “I wanted to make a film that would raise the…
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