DBS Media Report
Friday, April 9, 2021
My News 13: Lighthouse Central Florida Offers Virtual Learning During
Pandemic
<https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/coronavirus/2021/04/07/lighthouse-centr
al-florida-offers-virtual-learning-during-pandemic?cid=share_clip>
"I needed to learn, regardless of whether I could learn in person or
virtually, remotely," said Muaherjee. "It has been difficult but this is my
opinion, is that the virtual learning is still absolutely wonderful."
Lighthouse Central Florida is now shifting to a hybrid model, offering some
in-person services with safety protocols in place. The nonprofit is
determining the logistics of when more people can be welcomed back.
CNBC: Op-Ed: Employers
<https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/06/op-ed-diversity-equity-efforts-often-overlo
ok-those-with-disabilities-.html?__source=sharebar|twitter&par=sharebar> '
Diversity And Equity Efforts Often Overlook People With Disabilities
As we move into 2021 and begin the economic recovery from the coronavirus
pandemic, it makes sense to think about ways to maximize workforce
participation, and a strong focus on DEI is critical to positioning the
economy for recovery and growth. And as we discuss what DEI success should
look like in the U.S., it's time for policymakers and employers to step up
and do their part to tap into the most unemployed population in this country
- people with disabilities.
BBC News: Stars Urge Hollywood To Take Urgent Action On Disability
<https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56661259>
The letter says there's an "urgent need to act on disability inclusion" and
urges major studios to appoint permanent disability officers. The number of
disabled characters on screen "continues to severely under-represent the
actual US population living with disabilities", it says. "Due to years of
misrepresentation in the media, social barriers, and chronic ableism, the
deaf, hard of hearing, neurodiverse and disabled communities continue to be
underrepresented and disrespected in the entertainment industry."
Accessibility
Court House News: Websites Not Bound By ADA Accessibility Rules, 11
<https://www.courthousenews.com/websites-not-bound-by-ada-accessibility-rule
s-11th-circuit-finds/> th Circuit Finds
In a decision that a dissenting judge warned could have widespread
consequences for visually impaired people, a split panel of the 11th Circuit
ruled Wednesday that websites for businesses that are generally open to the
public are not places of public accommodation under the Americans With
Disabilities Act. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the Atlanta-based appeals
court ruled that although "inaccessibility online can be a significant
inconvenience," supermarket chain Winn-Dixie cannot be found liable under
Title III of the ADA for having a website that is inaccessible to disabled
people who use screen-reading software.
Education
Hechinger Report: Is The Pandemic Our Chance To Reimagine Education For
Students With Disabilities
<https://hechingerreport.org/is-the-pandemic-our-chance-to-reimagine-educati
on-for-students-with-disabilities/>
With the special education system under strain, many weary parents and
teachers share a common mantra: a hope that things will get back to normal
soon. However, advocates say that "normal" isn't good enough when public
school wasn't designed to support every child in the first place; instead,
what's needed is systemic change that goes further to improve schools for
all children, especially the most vulnerable. "How do we take what we're
doing in this moment and use this chance to prioritize equity and put
marginalized students first, so that building our system back, they are at
the center of it, rather than at the margins?" said Whittaker of the
National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Ed Week: Most Students With Disabilities Still Attend Remotely. Teachers Say
They
<https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/most-students-with-disabilities-st
ill-attend-remotely-teachers-say-theyre-falling-behind/2021/04> 're Falling
Behind
The survey included nearly 1,600 general and specialized teachers who work
with students who have special education plans under IDEA or Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Two-thirds of the teachers felt that they
were less able to meet the requirements of students' individualized
education plans and provide the support that their students needed when they
were teaching remotely.
Eye Health
The Ophthalmologist: The Burden Of Eye Disease In Women
<https://theophthalmologist.com/subspecialties/the-burden-of-eye-disease-in-
women>
In the past, when the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) surveyed a population,
data were not specific to the sex of the individual. Instead, estimates of
the number of cases were based on the percentage of men and women in a
population. This year the GBD in collaboration with the Vision Loss Expert
Group published two articles that highlight analyses from disaggregated data
- information specific to the sex of the individual. So, for the first time,
we can see how sex and age affect the global disease burden. The findings
confirmed what we suspected: prevalence of almost every major cause of
blindness, except glaucoma, is higher in women than men, with 55 percent of
women affected by vision loss. Even in conditions such as uncorrected
refractive error and cataract, this disparity exists.
Workforce Development
Disability Scoop: Biden Calls For Major Boost To Disability Services
<https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2021/04/05/biden-calls-for-major-boost-to-d
isability-services/29272/>
The push to enhance offerings for individuals with disabilities is part of a
sweeping proposal to modernize America's infrastructure and put more people
to work. In addition to projects focused on improving transportation and
repairing schools and federal facilities, Biden is arguing that the nation
must also invest in the caregiving system in this country.
