Auston Stamm’s Post

Regulators globally continue the steady march to strengthen digital accessibility standards. The latest move in the US, shortly after the US DOJ expansion of ADA Title II, now the Department of Health and Human Services has released regulatory guidance of its own for digital accessibility as it relates to Section 504. Both the US DOJ and HHS are now targeting WCAG 2.1 AA as the guiding standard. More info in this article on Digital A11y.

On April 8, 2024, the DOJ announced the final rule requiring state and local governments to implement web-based accessibility standards per WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Counties with populations of 50,000 or more must comply by April 2026, while smaller counties have until April 2027. This regulation underscores the importance of digital inclusivity, ensuring all residents can access essential government services online. @CivicPlus #WebAccessibility #ADACompliance #GovTech https://lnkd.in/efYMEQ_u

Accessibility should be on everyone’s list of what’s important in their brand. As a designer these are things I think about with my designs. Who’s the audience and is it accessible for them.

Came across this blog this morning and it got me thinking. We continually strive to produce papers that are 'visual', we demand a 1 page brief, require a 'plan on a page', focus on needing the headline first have a mantra of 'why use narrative when you can say it with a table or a chart'. But perhaps by ensuring we are being brief to save our Exec teams time, we have missed the fact that we could be unintentionally excluding those who find pictures, images, charts and tables challenging to decipher.. and if we are choosing formats that are incompatable with a screen readers then we are completely removing access to information. It seems to me that at the very least we are excluding people from the details, and at the very worst we are role modelling that if you can't access information in this format then you can't sit at our table. https://lnkd.in/echhSft2

This needs to be shared… we all get excited about AI it’s amazing opportunities, the latest tech tool or gizmo widgets … but before we write our strategies let’s make sure we read the post below and work with our EDI ambassadors and colleagues with lived experience to understand the true impact of digital #inclusion #accessibility

While I was at CSUN this year I had the pleasure to meet with Lucy Greco, from the University of California, Berkeley, to speak with Lucy about the case for standard accessibility reporting (video below). Dr. Chris M. Law, and the team at Standard Accessibility Reporting, Inc., have been working diligently to start standardized accessibility ratings for consumer electronic products in all of our homes, work places, schools, hospitals, Airbnb homes, etc. I have been outspoken about the growing need for accessibility ratings for people with disabilities (PWDs) and for the evolving silver tsunami. In 2024 Baby Boomers are age 60-78 and there is an estimated 68 million in the US. More than 11,200 American Boomers will turn 65 every day — or over 4.1 million every year — from 2024 through 2027, according to estimates from the Retirement Income Institute at the Alliance for Lifetime Income. What this means is Boomers are signing up for Medicare and will have access to health care and services in the event of future disabilities. But if consumer electronic companies do not adapt their products to this large demographic then there will be millions of frustrated consumers struggling to use consumer electronics in their homes as they age and develop disabilities, in addition to millions of people who currently have disabilities. You may think that this is something that you personally do need to be involved with yet, but I bet your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and organizations you work at would benefit from being involved in this movement, so I strongly recommend that all individuals and organizations go to the Standard Accessibility Reporting website (https://standardari.org/) to get involved in this very important initiative. Catch the wave and be part of the movement! #AccessibilityInTheNews AARP #AARP Consumer Reports #ConsumerReports #InternationalCES #ConsumerElectronicsShow #CES2025 #CES2024 Billion Strong https://lnkd.in/gKuWQDHB

Tighter legislation on the accessibility of digital services is underway in Europe and the USA. My latest blog recommends that organisations should act now and deliver more accessible digital services through voluntary self regulation and get ahead of the legislation curve. https://lnkd.in/eUewP38c .  I struggle to understand how organisations can consciously choose to exclude disabled people from their online services.

The #Section508 Refresh Act is a proposed bill that would update Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires agencies to make federal technology accessible — including websites. Learn more about the proposed updates, and reach out if you're seeking support in understanding and complying with Section 508 standards. We can help you keep up with digital accessibility trends and any potential changes to laws and regulations.

2024 is a groundbreaking year for digital accessibility! From new state laws like Colorado's HB21-1110 to federal mandates by the DOJ and HHS, the focus on accessible design is stronger than ever. Adapt now or risk falling behind. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/euV-Qp4b #AccessibilityForAll #InclusiveWeb #DisabilityInclusion #WebAccess #WebAccessibility #DigitalAccessibility #InclusiveContent #AccessibilityCompliance #DocumentAccessibility #AccessibilityStrategies #PreciseMetrics #RealWorldExamples #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityInsights #WebAccessibility #InclusiveLearning #AccessibleContent #DigitalInclusion #AccessForAll #WebAccessibilityTips #LearnAccessibility

Do you ever think about how your digital content reaches everyone in your community? When it's not accessible, it's like holding a meeting but locking the doors to some residents. And that's not just unfair — it's a missed opportunity to connect and engage. Grab our white paper to see how enhancing accessibility isn't just about compliance — it's about showing you care. Make every resident feel valued and heard. @CivicPlus #WebAccessibility #MakeADifference #ResidentExperience https://lnkd.in/eCfRUDXF