May 2026
Volume 19 Issue 7
Walk Sign Is On to Cross: Requirements for Accessible Pedestrian Signals in PROWAG
In honor of GAAD, our Center is highlighting the WebAIM Million Project’s 2026 report. Every year, WebAIM conducts an accessibility evaluation of the top 1,000,000 website homepages. The results provide a current snapshot of the state of web accessibility across various sectors as well as insighta into notable trends. Here are this year’s notable findings:
Findings:
Conclusions & Guidance:
Apprenticeships: A Path to Success for Workers with Disabilities
This year for National Apprenticeship Week, the U.S. Department of Labor has released guidance on apprenticeships and how they can impact employment for people with disabilities. Learn more about apprenticeships and how to get started.
As Deadline Looms, Many Facilities Still Lack ADA Compliant Medical Diagnostic Equipment (MDE)
By August 9 of this year, public healthcare facilities using exam tables and weight scales are required to have at least one of each that meets the new MDE standards under the ADA. Learn about the new MDE rule and why advocates are reporting uneven compliance.
FDA Considers Ban on Electrical Stimulation Treatment for IDD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is returning to a proposed 2024 ban against electrical stimulation devices (ESDs). These devices are intended to reduce or stop self-harming or aggressive behavior and have been used on people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). The ban has been on hold for two years but a recent unified agenda states that the projected publication date is May 2026. Learn more about the proposal to ban ESD.
Educational Opportunities for Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities
House Bill 1810 would require reasonable accommodation for incarcerated individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including waiving standardized testing requirements for entry into educational, vocational and work programs. Participation in these programs through a waiver will also qualify individuals for earned sentence credit, helping reduce recidivism and support reintegration. To strengthen support within correctional facilities, the bill also requires annual training for Illinois Department of Corrections staff on identifying individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and providing appropriate accommodations and support in educational and vocational settings.
Learn more: Johnson Advances Educational Opportunities for Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities
AbilityLab to Carry on Legacy of Accessible Sailing in Chicago
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is carrying on the work of fostering accessible sailing from the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, with a gift valued at more than $5 million. In partnership with the Chicago Park District, the Goldmans, and the foundation and supporters offered up a fleet of specially designed sailboats and instruction to participants with conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to spinal cord injury.
Learn more: AbilityLab Receives $5M to Carry on 35-year Legacy of Accessible Sailing in Chicago
Chicago-Area Riders Can Apply for an Increase in RAP & TAP Rides
Chicago-area riders who use the Rideshare Access Program (RAP) and Taxi Access Program (TAP) can apply for an increase in their monthly rides. RAP and TAP enrollees can visit the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) website to apply for a new 10 ride increase, which would bring the total rides available to the user to 40 rides per month. The increase will go into effect on July 1. If the rider cannot apply online, they can call (312) 913-3110 for assistance.
Indiana Withdraws from Texas vs. Kennedy Lawsuit
Indiana’s attorney general has pulled out of a federal lawsuit challenging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2024 updated Section 504 rule which includes important information and guidance about disability discrimination and access to services, particularly for healthcare. Additionally, the final rule incorporates changes needed to reflect amendments to Section 504, enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and significant case law. Most HHS recipients have been covered by the ADA since 1991. The Indiana attorney general’s office filed a notice May 1 withdrawing and was joined shortly after by South Dakota who withdrew on May 12. This suit which initially included 17 states is now down to 6.
Learn more: The Arc of Indiana Applauds AG Rokita’s Decision to Withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy
New Statewide Coalition - Indiana Disability Alliance
Indiana’s leading organizations advocating for and representing people with disabilities and their families across the state have joined together to form the Indiana Disability Alliance, a new statewide coalition focused on advancing policies that support independence, inclusion, and opportunity.
Learn more: New statewide group to advocate for people with disabilities
University Students Create Assistive Devices to Aid Disability Community
A senior-level program at University of Detroit Mercy brings engineering and nursing students together to create personalized assistive technology devices for community members with disabilities. Last month, students showed off their finished products during a presentation which included a lift system to move items from a car to a porch and a transfer board to make it easier to move from a wheelchair to a car.
Learn more: University of Detroit Mercy Students Create Assistive Devices to Aid Disability Community
Students in Detroit Not Receiving Timely Special Education Evaluations
Data shows that of the 1,680 evaluation referrals the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) received from the start of the school year through March, 72 were not completed on time and 728 are still in process. As the number of students diagnosed with disabilities has increased in DPSCD and across the state, districts have struggled to hire enough staff to keep up with demand for evaluations. National staffing shortages and inadequate state funding for special education compound the problem.
Learn more: Parents say Detroit Schools Fail to Complete Special Ed Evaluations on Time. Here is What the Data Shows
Legislation to Improve Disability Rights in Minnesota Human Rights Act
The House passed HF2380 that would add language to the public policy statement of the act specifying that not engaging in a process to provide an accommodation could be classified as a discriminatory practice. The amended bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence. The bill specifies that the process must occur when people with disabilities seek “to participate fully in employment, housing and real property, public accommodations, public services, and education.”
Learn more: House Lawmakers OK legislation Strengthening Disability Rights in Minnesota Human Rights Act
Increase in Projected Special Education Revenue
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) leadership announced an increase in projected special education revenue. Officials said revenue would go from $10.7 million in the current year to $10.8 million in the 2026-27 school year. This increase will help the district reduce the projected budget gap. MPS Superintendent Dr. Sayles-Adams said she issued a survey to families, asking what priorities they would like the administration to address. About 42% of respondents asked the administration to focus on fixing the structure of the district, and 25% requested improvements to programming.
Learn more: Minneapolis Public Schools Leaders Announce Increased Revenue from Special Education Programs
Study Reveals Gap in Accessible Housing Across Toledo
The study report, Accessible Housing in Toledo: Needs, Gaps, and Potential Solutions, finds that nearly one-third of all households in Toledo include at least one person with a disability. Yet the availability of housing that meets their needs falls far short. The study outlines strategies to help close the gap, including increasing the supply of accessible housing, expanding support for home modifications, improving coordination across systems, and making it easier for residents to find housing that truly meets their needs. The findings are intended to guide continued collaboration between community organizations, policymakers, developers, and residents.
Learn more: New Study Reveals Gap in Accessible Housing Across Toledo
Concerns in Ohio’s Residential Treatment Facilities for Children and Youth
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) released "Patterns Persist: Alarming Concerns in Ohio’s Residential Treatment Facilities (RTF) for Children and Youth." This position paper calls for faster, more impactful action to be taken against facilities, and the need for new tools to help safeguard the youth living in these settings. These recommendations come after more than six years of investigations and monitoring activities discovered persistent and pervasive issues in Ohio’s Youth RTFs.
Learn more: Disability Rights Ohio - Patterns Persist
Milwaukee Airport Launches ASL Interpreting Service
Aira ASL allows travelers to connect on-demand with a professional ASL interpreter to bridge communication gaps between the Deaf and hearing. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is the first location in the state of Wisconsin to offer free access to this service. Users are asked to download the Aira ASL app to connect with a professional interpreter. Aira ASL can be used across a vast range of situations at MKE, from baggage check to getting information about flight status to ordering food in the terminal. The service can also be used on the aircraft before take-off to get real-time interpreting about emergency instructions or pre-flight announcements.
Learn more: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport: Launches ASL Interpreting Service for Travelers | WisBusiness
Bill to Protect Employment Opportunities for Adults with Disabilities
Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act is legislation aimed at protecting work opportunities and expanding employment choice for adults with disabilities. The bill would remove burdensome federal barriers that currently prevent many adults with disabilities from accessing workplace environments that best fit their individual needs, abilities, and long-term success.
Learn more: Wisconsin: Grothman Introduces Bill to Protect Employment Opportunities for Adults with Disabilities
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Reaffirmed Core Right for Medicaid Recipients
A ruling issued this month by the Wisconsin District III Court of Appeals reaffirmed a core right for Wisconsin Medicaid recipients: a fair hearing to ensure services are not denied inappropriately. The decision upheld a prior order from the circuit court in Lincoln County in Schott v. Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which held Plaintiff Tamra Schott’s rights were violated when her Medicaid-funded services through Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program were terminated without notice of the right to a fair hearing.
Learn more:
