Resources

On September 9, 2024, Apple Inc announced hearing health features coming to AirPods Pro 2, which provide the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience including a clinical-grade, over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature. Included in these new features is Hearing Protection to help users prevent exposure to loud environmental noise while preserving the sound signature of what they’re listening…

On September 10, 2024, the FCC announced that survivors of domestic abuse can get discounted phone, internet, or bundled services through the FCC’s Lifeline program. Survivors can now make a request with their service provider to separate their mobile phone lines from family plans where the abuser is on the account. Impacted survivors experiencing financial hardship can also receive up to six…

EEOC v. Smith’s Detection Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-2510 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division. The agency filed against Smith’s Detection, Inc., a leading manufacturer of threat detection equipment, for demoting a disabled employee to avoid providing her with personal protective equipment (PPE). The employee, who suffered from complete hearing loss in her left…

The World Hearing Forum at the World Health Organization is a global network of stakeholders promoting ear and hearing care worldwide. Members of this advocacy network are committed to facilitate the implementation of World Health Assembly resolution WHA70.13 on “Prevention of deafness and hearing loss” and support the Member States in this regard. Over 430 million people require rehabilitation to…

The U.S. Department of Justice publication, ADA Requirements: Effective Communication is designed to help title II ((State and local governments) and title III entities ((businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) understand how ADA rules for effective communication apply to them. These entities must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with…

Technology continues to evolve at the speed of human ingenuity, which means that the broad antidiscrimination mandates of the ADA must continually be applied to new situations. Fortunately, technology offers many innovative tools to make life more accessible and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity. Some of these technological tools are described in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's…

At its July 18, 2024 Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Third Report and Order requiring manufacturers of covered apparatus and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to make closed captioning display settings readily accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. The Order adopts a “readily accessible” requirement for closed captioning…

The ADA’s equal-opportunity mandate goes beyond making sure that information provided through electronic means is as readily accessible to people with disabilities as it is to those without disabilities. It also means making sure that software and other information technology deployed by employers to aid in the hiring process or to monitor and rate employee performance does not screen out…

Earlier this year, the Justice Department finalized regulations on Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities, establishing a technical standard for accessibility of web content and mobile apps provided or made available by entities covered by Title II of the ADA. State and local governments provide many of their services, programs, and activities through…

On July 19, 2024, the FCC released a Report and Order taking steps to advance the nationwide transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911). Unlike the current 911 system, NG911 uses Internet Protocol (IP)-based format and routing, and will support the transmission of text, photos, videos, and data. In the Report and Order, the FCC adopted the first nationwide NG911 transition rules that define the…