W3C Announces Plan to Standardize HTML5 by 2015

As part of advancing HTML 5.0 to World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Recommendation by 2014, the HTML Working Group Chairs proposed a plan today to work in parallel on stabilizing HTML 5.0 and developing the next generation of HTML features. The plan identifies, for the first time, how the Working Group will produce an HTML 5.1 Recommendation by 2016.

The plan, not yet approved by the HTML Working Group, explains how the group anticipates fulfilling the interoperability expectations of the W3C process, including how the group will gather implementation evidence, identify features at risk for Candidate Recommendation, and create a test framework.

Modularity plays an important role in the plan progress. To enable features to evolve independently and rapidly, the group will make use of what it calls “extension specifications.” Some extension specifications may end up being published as stand-alone documents that are part of the “HTML family of specifications”; others may be re-integrated into the “baseline” HTML5 specification.

The plan also includes several elements to facilitate development of accessibility solutions for HTML5. In addition to leveraging the extension specification approach, the plan includes a mandate for the HTML Accessibility Task Force to develop accessibility solutions through cooperation and consensus.

We now invite discussion of plan in the HTML Working Group, Accessibility Task Force, and WAI Protocols and Formats Working Group. If adopted, then the HTML Working Group expects to advance HTML 5.0 to Candidate Recommendation in Q4 of this year.

To read the proposed plan, visit http://lists.w3.org

Source: W3C, GAATES

Exhibit to Showcase Accessible Tools and Products for Disabled People - October 5-6

In the first of its kind in the area, an Adapted Home Exhibit at the Independence Center will showcase the tools and products that help persons with disabilities live independently in their homes.

Adapted Home Exhibit Oct 5-6

The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 at the Freedom Financial Services Expo Center, 3650 North Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, United States.

The Adapted Home Exhibit is an event designed to educate the community on what accessible tools exist to keep persons with disabilities independent in their homes and communities. The home will showcase eight rooms filled with more than 1,000 tools that encourage and enable independent living.

“Everyone can benefit from this exhibit-not just people with disabilities,” said Patricia Yeager, CEO of The Independence Center. “We all know someone with a disability, whether it’s a child, our best friend or a parent getting older. The technology that will be presented in this amazing house will assist people with functional limitations of all ages and their caretakers and show them that they really can be more independent in their homes.”

The event will provide you with an overview of how you may be able to use and incorporate these products for every day living in your home. Some of the items include lighted phone call signalers, talking alarm clocks, accessible showers, garden equipment and kitchen. The items on display vary in cost and level of technology. Many of the items in the home will be on sale in the vendor fair. Accessible vehicles will be displayed.

For more information, visit The Independence Center, GAATES

Registration Now Open for September 28 National Forum on Disability Issues

Along with other aging and disability organizations, NCOA is co-sponsoring this historic nonpartisan event featuring the 2012 presidential candidates and candidates for the U.S. Senate seat from Ohio providing their positions on a wide variety of disability issues, including those affecting older adults.

The forum will be the only national event to focus specifically on disability issues.

Questions are expected to focus on “big picture” issues facing the broad disability community, such as employment, health care, long-term services and supports, education, transportation, housing, and research.

Registration now open! (September 28 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. ET Columbus, OH)

• Register for the forum
• Register for the webcast

Source: GAATES

Travel Industry Could Do More to Help People with Disabilities

Despite the success of the London Paralympics, new research has revealed that 86 percent of persons with disabilities who responded to a recent survey think the UK travel industry is still not providing sufficient information about disability access and facilities.

The survey, which was carried out by Adapted Vehicle Hire, the UK’s largest supplier of rental vehicles for  drivers with disabilities and charity, Tourism For All UK, also revealed that 87 percent of respondents had been prevented from travelling because of their disability.

A further 77 percent consider disability access to be ‘very important’ when planning where to go on holiday.

London was identified as the part of UK with the best access and facilities but despite improvements made in the run up to the Paralympics, the Underground was singled out for criticism.

The UK’s airports and train stations also fared badly in the survey with respondents claiming more needed to be done to make them accessible for all.

However there was some encouraging news as over 92 percent of people thought that accessibility had improved overall in the past ten years – 28 percent thought that access was ‘significantly better’.

Lorraine Farnon, Managing Director of Adapted Vehicle Hire, said:

“The results of this survey clearly demonstrate that despite gradual progress, more needs to be done to make the travel industry more accessible for persons with disabilities.

“Following the outstanding success of the Paralympics which has brought disability issues increasingly into the mainstream, there is now an opportunity to make real improvements to access and facilities across the UK.”

Carrie-Ann Lightley, Information Officer from Tourism For All UK, said:

“Tourism For All has been campaigning for the past 30 years to improve the range of travel options and facilities for persons with disabilities Our view is that tourism is important to everyone and we support the government’s aim of making UK tourism the most accessible in Europe.

“We are heartened that most people feel that access and facilities have improved in the past ten years, but the survey also revealed there are big variations across the UK. Access to some rural and historic sites will always present more of a challenge for disabled visitors, but places like airports have scope for significant improvement to better meet the needs of travellers with disabilities.”

The survey results also identified Cornwall and Devon as the most popular holiday destination, followed closely by Spain and France.

Several venues from across the UK were praised for their ease of access and suitability for visitors with disabilities including National Trust properties and the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Source: Industry Today, GAATES

New Building Accessibility Regulations Take Effect September 30

Sept. 30 is the deadline for business owners and operators in the province to comply with new regulations, requiring properly identified and accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities.

The provincial government made amendments to its accessibility regulations in February.

Blue zone parking spaces for public buildings will be required to have permanent signage when the new regulations take effect.

Previously the regulations contained signage requirements, but were not clear on the need for signs to be permanently fixed on a post, building or other structure. The province said this resulted in some temporary signs being removed, for example during snow clearing operations, and the parking spaces being difficult to identify.

The regulations also require the parking space itself to be painted blue and designated with the international symbol for accessibility.

Companies that violate these signage requirements could face fines between $1,000 and $25,000, while fines for building owners range from $500 to $5,000.

“We have listened to the concerns of persons with disabilities in communities throughout this province and have strengthened our regulations to make buildings more accessible,” said Paul Davis, minister of Service NL. “These new regulations have been designed to ensure that building owners and operators are conforming with the new legislation to provide barrier-free parking to individuals with disabilities and I am pleased to see full implementation of the regulations.”

The amendments were made following consultation with organizations, including the Provincial Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.

Davis said the regulations support the provincial strategy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

“While we recognize that more communication and awareness need to be done around blue zone parking, we are pleased that the Provincial Government has taken steps to strengthen the building regulations,” said Michelle Murdoch, president of the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities. “These changes will ensure that proper signage will be erected to designate parking spaces for persons with disabilities.”

More information on building accessibility requirements can be found online at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/licenses/building/

Source: The Telegram, GAATES

Basics of Electronic Document Accessibility - October 10

The Accessibility Committee of the Chief Information Officers Council is sponsoring a webinar on October 10, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The new interagency Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice will address how to produce accessible electronic documents and will provide resources for agencies to use to make sure electronic documents are accessible. Register online.

Source: GAATES

Governments of Canada and New Brunswick Celebrate Accessible, Affordable Housing

Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique – Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Sue Stultz, New Brunswick Minister of Social Development and Minister Responsible for Housing, today participated in the official opening of a 24-unit development in Grand Falls, that provides a total of 12 affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Funding in the amount of more than $1.4 million has been made available for this housing development through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $75 million under the amended Canada – New Brunswick Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Harper Government is taking concrete action to help ensure economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Allen. “Funding projects like Place de la Gare will not only improve the overall housing conditions for seniors and persons with disabilities, but also helps to stimulate the local economy and create jobs.”

“Adequate, accessible and affordable housing is a significant factor in helping to enhance the quality of life of New Brunswickers and their families,” said Stultz. “Projects such as this one are good examples of how governments and the community can work together to rebuild New Brunswick.”

Place de la Gare is a 24-unit complex, located at 510 Chapel Street, in Grand Falls. In addition to the federal housing funding of $480,000 for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities provided through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the project received close to $960,000 in rent supplements from the provincial government for 12 units.

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In New Brunswick, this represents some 16,300 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada, through CMHC, is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

Source: GAATES