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Welcome to the Weekly Reading Roundup! Stay informed with our latest selection of accessibility news highlights, curated for you!
GLOBAL NEWS
Disability:IN, the global nonprofit organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business, today unveiled the 2024 Disability Equality Index® report at the Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo, revealing higher year-over-year adoption rates for nearly all reported practices around disability inclusion while also showing the need for more progress in areas such as diversity reporting, supplier diversity spending and boardroom inclusion. A total of 542 U.S. companies participated this year, a growth rate of 7x since the index launched 10 years ago in partnership with AAPD.
USA NEWS
In an innovative partnership, The Home Depot has collaborated with leading disability rights organizations to remove barriers and improve job access for applicants with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Home Depot worked closely with The Arc of the United States, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and Equip for Equality (EFE) to develop policy changes that will create a more equitable hiring process for this underrepresented talent pool.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON DISABILITY: Feds Weighing Changes To Subminimum Wage Program
Federal officials are rethinking the government program that allows people with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage, with a new proposal expected soon.
The U.S. Department of Labor said it plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking related to Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act by September.
It’s not yet clear what changes could be in store, but advocates have urged the department to do away with the Section 14(c) program altogether. Paying people with disabilities what’s known as subminimum wage is already banned in many states and the number of people working such jobs has declined precipitously in recent years.
DC NEWS
WASHINGTON POST: A program for young musicians aims to change perceptions of disability
A weekend of anniversary programs at the Kennedy Center aims to address the complicated intersection of classical music and disability by putting the talents of disabled musicians center stage. On the morning of July 26, the Library of Congress’s National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled will give a presentation on music resources and adaptive technology for blind and low vision musicians at the Reach. And that evening, violinist Adrian Anantawan will offer a Millennium Stage recital in celebration of the ADA’s anniversary.
CULTURE NEWS
Today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, PBS KIDS announced the premiere date for CARL THE COLLECTOR, a new 2D animated series for children ages 4-8. Created by New York Times bestselling illustrator and author Zachariah OHora (“My Cousin Momo”), the series breaks new ground as the first PBS KIDS show to feature central characters on the autism spectrum. Through its relatable stories, characters, and messages, and with a production team that includes neurodiverse writers, production staff, animators, advisors, and voice talent, CARL THE COLLECTOR showcases and celebrates our differences and commonalities, and that we all have something unique to offer. The series is produced by Fuzzytown Productions and Spiffy Pictures and will premiere on November 14, 2024, on PBS KIDS in English and Spanish.
CARL THE COLLECTOR follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who enjoys collecting things and loves his friends and family in Fuzzytown. Carl pays extraordinarily close attention to detail and comes up with unique ideas that others might not consider. These traits have helped him amass his extensive collections—from autographs and bottle caps to fake mustaches, pet rocks, sweaters, and virtually everything in between—which can come in handy for solving problems around the neighborhood with his friends.
