Accessible and Accessibility Articles and Information

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Our meaning of accessibility specifically focuses on people with disabilities and their right of access to entities, often through use of assistive devices such as screen-reading web browsers or wheelchairs. The term can extend to Braille signage, wheelchair ramps, elevators, audio signals at pedestrian crossings, walkway contours, website design.

In the US, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, new public and private business construction generally must be accessible. Existing private businesses are required to increase the accessibility of their facilities when making renovations in proportion to the cost of the other renovations. The U.S. Access Board is "A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design for People with Disabilities."

Great Britain applies the most widespread application of home access. The housing most people in the US reside is not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, or any other federal law with the exception of a small percentage of publicly-funded homes impacted by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Home Remodeling for Universal Needs
Universally designed homes should look and feel like home, without sacrifice to personal taste and style. Learn more about the latest trends in home remodeling using universal design.

Text Phones for the Deaf
There are approximately 70 million deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people worldwide. All of which could not use phones to communicate until recently. This article reviews some of the available home phones and cell phones that cater for the hearing impaired.

Google Search Tips and Tricks
There are many different tricks and tips you can use when using the Google search engine to make life easier. The following article is a comprehensive guide to most of the commands you can enter in the google search box, it will get you what you want easy and fast once you have learned how to use it in a more intimate manner.

Adaptive Alpine Skiing - Go with a Pro
In adaptive skiing, there are six different disciplines: developmental, visually impaired, mono-ski, bi-ski, 3-track and 4-track. Following is information about choosing a qualified instructor as well as selecting the right resort. You can also find this information by visiting Disaboom.com, selecting the living section and continue on to sports & recreation. So don’t sit inside on those cold winter days; get out and play.

Hitting the Slopes
As more and more people with disabilities get involved with the sport, there are several key thoughts to be considered before hitting the slopes, according to Disaboom.com, the largest online community/support network for people with disabilities, the first consideration is equipment.

Making Life Easier with Hotkeys
A keyboard shortcut (or accelerator key, shortcut key, key binding, keybinding, key combo, etc.) is a key or set of keys that performs a predefined function. This handy list of hotkey shortcuts will make computing a lot easier for those with disabilities.

Windows Vista Speech Recognition and Narrator
Windows Vista can now be controlled by voice input, you can tell your computer what to do instead of searching for letters on your keyboard. Not only can this save time, but for anyone with sight disabilities this is more then a luxury, it is a must. This feature is standard on the Windows Vista operating system.

Windows Vista - Lowering Resolution
Monitors with wide screens will in most cases shrink icons and websites sometimes making everything hard to see and read. The easiest way to make everything a little bigger is by lowering screen resolution just a bit. These instructions are for Windows Vista operating system.

Screen Magnifiers
A screen magnifier is software that interfaces with a computer's graphical output to present enlarged screen content. This article reviews several screen magnifiers that are available.

Wheelchair Workstations
Most standard computer desks are unsuitable for those confined to wheelchairs. The height of the desktop may not be of sufficient height to allow the wheelchair access beneath it, or the bench top may be too high for a person to comfortably reach the computer.

Tips to Make Computing Accessible
No one has to revoke the use of computers because of disabilities, technology has come a long way to make itself accessible to everyone. There is a lot of software made available to help the user properly interact with the computer's system, many of which are already part of any computer with windows. This series of articles covers topics on making computing accessible.

Disability College Services and Information
Major US college disability information for students including hearing impaired schools and colleges. Many high school students with disabilities plan to continue their education in colleges and universities. As a student with a disability, you need to be informed about your rights and the responsibilities postsecondary schools must abide by. In this article we have listed links and important information regarding many universities and colleges in the United States.

Definition of Disabilities
The term - disability - as it is applied to humans refers to any condition that impedes the completion of daily tasks using traditional methods. National governments and global humanitarian agencies have narrowed this definition for their own purposes, only pledging aid to those with specific disabilities of a certain severity.

Buying a Home Wheelchair Lift
A wheelchair lift can be a tremendous help to those who suffer from disabilities and limited mobility. For those who are confined to a wheelchair, whether it be full-time or part-time, having a home wheelchair lift can allow them to move from one level of a home to another more easily than using ramps.

Screen Readers for the Visually Impaired
A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. This interpretation is then represented to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille output. We have provided links to websites offering both commercial and free screen readers for the visually impaired.

Accessible Home Inspections by Qualified Inspectors

Disability Discrimination Act
The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) aims to protect disabled people against discrimination - both in employment and when using a service or facility.

Pied Piper of Safe Baths
Wally had just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, yet we ignored his future needs and glibly looked for a house with a one-level floor on a dreamy location.

AccessAbility offers Environmental and Employment Solutions for Persons with Disabilitites in India
Accessibility facilitates ability. Therefore we, with our motto ‘Access = Ability’, strongly believe that an inclusive environment significantly contributes towards making a better tomorrow for all and removing the attitudinal barriers that come from exclusion.

Braille Is Alive and Well
One hundred and seventy five years after the first book was published in braille, millions of people who are blind or have low vision continue to read, write, and communicate through the six dot system. In fact, braille is used throughout the world by people who read a variety of languages.

Wheelchair Accessible Construction
If you are the loved one of one of those who must use a wheelchair, you may need to perform wheelchair accessible construction on the home to make it easier for them to move around and reach things. If you are the owner of a business, federal law may require that you make your facilities handicap accessible.

Bringing wheelchairs into the 21st Century
Having recently taken part in research to create accessible footpaths out of recycled chip bark and the testing of their level of usability for wheelchair users I came to one very important conclusion.

If Its Accessible They Will Come
The Americans with Disabilities Act has brought many public places within easier reach of those who "walk" in wheelchairs, read in Braille, communicate in sign language or hear with technology.

Wheelchair Ramps - Conquering The Final Frontier
Municipalities often have recommendations for the height and length ratio (which is sometimes called the slope or the rise) in order to ensure the safety of the user. If you are having yours built, be sure to request traction tape or sand paint to be applied to the surface so that you can be sure you'll be safe when it is snowy, icy, or wet on the ramp.

Lifts or Stairs for the Physically Challenged?
If you are unable to go up and down your stairs because of an injury or physical incapacity, don't despair as you now have options to continue enjoying accessibility and mobility.

Should UK Hotels be afraid of the DDA?
Disability Discrimination laws now protects those with vision and hearing impairments, learning difficulties, speech impediments etc etc. In short the duties under the DDA includes all disabilities from wheelchair users to asthma suffers.

Disabled WCs and Our Safety
A disabled WC compartment has to meet the needs of all disabled people and offer safe transfer both on and off the WC for wheelchair users.