ADA in the news August 31, 2020

accessiBe Gets $12 Million To Usher an Accessible Web with Ada Compliance

Web accessibility software accessiBe announced that it has received a $12 million investment from private equity firm K1 Investment Management, LLC. The funding is expected to fuel accesiBe’s expansion, widening its reach across North America and improving its support for its partners and customers.

“What excites us most about our partnership with K1 is that now, with the amazing support of our investors, we can bring accessibility to the world. Our vision is to make the internet truly accessible to everyone. By utilizing machine learning, our solution can help millions of businesses comply with legislation and avoid lawsuits on the one hand, while enabling users with disabilities to browse the internet effectively on the other. It’s a win-win,” Shir Ekerling, cofounder and CEO of accessiBe, said.

MTS Frequently Overrules Doctors' Orders On Reduced Fares For The Disabled

MTS is required to provide discounted fares for certain disabled riders, but doctors, service providers, and advocates say they aren't.

Pa. implements OmniBallot tool for blind voters in November election

Blind voters in Pennsylvania will be able to use a federally approved, cloud-based electronic platform to vote remotely in the November, and subsequent, elections.

The Pennsylvania Department of State will implement Democracy Live’s OmniBallot tool in response to a state court’s ruling that the previous paper ballot system used in the absentee and mail-in ballot process violated the Americans With Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act, according to a news release.

“This is an important victory and a major step toward providing equal access to the polls and fully accessible elections for all voters with disabilities,” said Kelly Darr, legal director for Disability Rights Pennsylvania. “The National Federation of the Blind and Disability Rights Pennsylvania will be monitoring the implementation of this new tool closely to ensure that disabled voters have the access and information necessary to use this tool in time for the general election.”

A lawsuit filed in May by Joseph Drenth and the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania alleged the paper ballots used in the absentee and mail-in process did not allow blind voters to vote privately and independently in the same way other voters could because blind voters must rely on sighted third parties to assist with completing and returning a paper ballot.

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