Accessibility reads: Thursday, October 10

Accessibility reads: Thursday, October 10

Thank you for joining me for another episode of Accessibility Reads! We’re here to look at some of the most notable recent stories from the world of accessibility, and I’m excited to share what we’ve been reading about at Deque.

In my short video below, I highlight some specific stories to stay on top of. I explore their significance and explain why I recommend you check them out.

Do you have a story we should read? Please share it on social media and tag us! You can also leave a comment on this post.

Featured articles

Some good news for increased accessibility in the skies: Virgin Atlantic has launched British Sign Language (BSL) cabin crew support. Now, people flying with Virgin can request cabin crew who know British Sign Language.

Be My Eyes and Meta have announced an accessibility partnership. Their “Call a Volunteer” experience will be provided on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, unlocking hands-free accessibility for blind and low-vision people for the first time.

Ryan Rix, a clothing designer from Swansea, was born with one forearm. He says his disability has inspired his passion for accessible fashion. While growing up, the clothes available to Ryan made him feel like he had to hide himself. He decided to learn how to craft and adapt his own clothes and now designs pieces for others with physical disabilities. Ryan is competing in a new ITV show for a role with Marks & Spencer.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) turned 30 years old and marked the occasion with a video highlighting the milestones for their organization and the internet. Meanwhile, after 15 years of working on developing a safer and more accessible internet, the World Wide Web Foundation (WF) is set to close, saying “mission accomplished.” Foundation co-founders Rosemary Leith and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, confirmed the decision in a letter shared online by the organization.

In the world of sports, Brett Favre reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis during Congressional hearing on the misuse of welfare funds in Mississippi. He states that this was a recent diagnosis.

More stories

Below, I’ve gathered some additional links to compelling stories that I think are well worth exploring:

‘Wicked’ Director Jon M. Chu Talks Creating “Accessibility In Oz” For Disabled Character
While discussing the character of Nessarose, Wicked director Jon M. Chu opened up about creating an accessible set for actress Marissa Bode.

Neuralink Brain Implant Wins an FDA Nod to Tackle Blindness
The regulatory approval is just the first phase of a long project, but Neuralink owner Elon Musk is already touting his brain implant tech as a world-changing solution for people with vision loss.

Take a seat for a tactile treat: Exhibit explores accessibility in modern art
Sacramento State Library Gallery hosts the exhibit Don’t mind if I do, organized by artist Finnegan Shannon and curated by Lauren Levy to challenge preconceptions of modern art while expanding accessibility.

AI tool could help cities improve accessibility at intersections
Researchers at Utah State University are developing an AI tool to identify accessibility issues at intersections, which could make it easier for cities to find and fix those issues.

This week’s recommended read

If you read just one thing this week, I recommend:

United Nations: Pact for the Future

Global leaders have made powerful commitments to a more inclusive and accessible world, especially for people with disabilities. The report’s message is clear: inclusion and accessibility are not optional—they are essential for a sustainable, equitable future.

Bonus content!

This Instagram post replays an ASL conversation between some first-grade deaf students as retold by their teacher. (Fair warning: it’s fart humor!)

Conclusion

Thank you for joining me for Accessibility Reads, and please stay tuned for our next edition.

In the meantime, please visit deque.com to learn more about how we’re advancing digital accessibility and inclusion across the globe.

Is your business ready to expand your digital accessibility efforts? Schedule a free strategic consulting session today!

photo of Matthew Luken

About Matthew Luken

Matthew Luken is a Vice President & Principal Strategy Consultant at Deque. Prior to Deque, Matthew built and ran U.S. Bank’s enterprise-level digital accessibility program. He grew the program from two contractor positions to a team of 75 consultants and leaders providing accessibility design reviews, compliance testing services, defect remediation consulting, and creating/documenting accessibility best practices across the company. The program leveraged 1,500+ implementations of Axe Auditor and almost 4,000 implementations of axe DevTools and Deque University. Matthew was also Head of UXDesign’s Accessibility Center of Practice where he was responsible for creating seamless procedures and processes that supported the digital accessibility team’s mission & objectives while dovetailing with the company’s other Center of Practices like DEI, employee-facing services, and Risk & Compliance. He and his team’s work has been recognized by American Banker, Forrester Research, Business Journal, and The Banker. In his user experience and service design backgrounds, Matthew worked with over 275 brands around the world, covering every vertical and category. He continues to teach User Experience, Service Design and Digital Accessibility at the college-level, as well as mentor new digital designers through several different mentorship programs around the USA.
View all posts by Matthew Luken
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