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Digital Accessibility News in 60 Seconds – Jan 8, 2024: UMass’s Equity and Inclusion Week, Accessible QR Codes on Product Packaging, Australian Disability Reforms, Website Accessibility Strategies

  1. Education – UMass Amherst Announces Digital Equity and Inclusion Week: UMass Amherst’s third annual Digital Equity and Inclusion Week will be held from February 26 to March 1, 2024. The week will focus on awareness and engagement, with themes including elevating digital equity and inclusion, expanding resources and learning options, and providing opportunities for meaningful discussions. The schedule of events, including panels, workshops, and discussions, will cover topics such as accessibility in tech, universal design, and 3D printing for accessibility. The university is also offering an online training course on Disability Culture & Inclusion in the workplace. Various members of the UMass Amherst community shared their experiences and perspectives on accessibility and inclusion. (UMass Amherst)
  2. Merchandising – Zappar Discusses Accessible QR Codes on Product Packaging: Accessible QR (AQR) codes aim to improve accessibility for the visually impaired, offering features like text-to-speech and larger fonts. They combine a standard QR code with a dot-dash pattern, making them accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. AQR codes have gained traction with businesses in consumer packaged goods who value enhanced accessibility and compliance with upcoming regulatory changes. They provide crucial product information to the 315 million people worldwide with sight loss. The codes can be scanned with popular accessibility apps like Microsoft SeeingAI and Envision. They are a simple, scalable, and structured solution for inclusive product packaging. Brands like Unilever, Bayer, and Diageo have already adopted AQR codes. AQR codes support the transition from UPC to GS1 Digital Link standards and meet global standards for product identification and information sharing. (Zappar).
  3. Global Health – Insights on Australian Accessibility and Disability topics for 2024: Briar Harte’s article focuses on upcoming changes in disability and accessibility in Australia. These changes include NDIS policy reform, the establishment of a Disability Rights Act and National Disability Commission, updates to the Web Advisory Notes in the Disability Discrimination Act, evolution of employment programs for people with disabilities, and the embedding of standards for accessible housing and building. The notes also encourage readers to consider how accessibility contributes to their interests, what they need to unlearn or adjust, and how to include more disabled voices on social media. (Briar Harte)
  4. Business – SHRM Highlights Key Strategies for Website Accessibility: The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) outlines crucial steps for making websites accessible to people with disabilities, emphasizing legal compliance and practical guidelines. According to SHRM, employers and business owners should ensure that their websites are accessible to people with disabilities to foster positive interactions and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Businesses should develop a web accessibility policy, create an accessibility statement, conduct user testing, and provide staff training on accessible web practices. (SHRM)