The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) expects workplaces and public areas to be accessible for people with disabilities. Since 1990, businesses and communities strive to meet these requirements. For example, public areas must take steps to remove barriers and add domed-tile curb ramps to improve accessibility and safety for people with impairments. Buildings constructed before 1990 must make adjustments, but buildings built after 1990 must be ADA compliant.

Creating a world that is accessible to everyone, with or without disabilities, takes innovation and drive. Conferences highlight emerging technologies in order to enhance the lives of people living with impairments. These conferences are the perfect platform for cities and businesses to learn how to become more accessible to everyone. Attend one of the conferences below to find out what’s on the horizon for assistive digital technologies, education, and city accessibility.

When the United States passed the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), it became illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers who had an impairment. The law applies to any airline that provides air transportation to, from, or within the United States. Not only does this law cut down on discrimination, but it also requires airlines to provide assistance for passengers, such as a wheelchair, guided assistance for all areas of boarding, or seating accommodation.

Cities and businesses are scrutinizing pedestrian walkways to determine how to best increase the ADA compliance of public spaces. ADA compliant sidewalks make businesses and public areas more accessible to individuals with disabilities. A key component of an ADA compliant sidewalk is the truncated dome tiles that warn pedestrians of a change in the sidewalk, whether an intersection or a ramp.

These truncated dome tiles have two common ways of being installed: cast-in-place or surface-applied.

People who lose their vision, whether at birth or later in life, must learn how to navigate the world a little bit differently. For those with vision, it can be difficult to understand how someone with limited or no sight sees the world. Yet, people with blindness live full, independent lives just like the rest of us. And this guide will help you to better understand the ends and outs of a world without sight.

Just as societies innately understand the subtle rules of social interaction, there is also an etiquette for interacting with a blind person or someone with low vision. People with vision often struggle to interact with others who have vision impairment. People freeze, uncertain of what to do, or communicate in a demoralizing way. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

People with vision need to know how to best interact with someone who cannot see, and these social cues can be a helpful guide to making a city more accessible.

Visually impaired people are all around us. Unfortunately, there are very few who take the time to learn about blindness and low-vision, and this makes the world a much more difficult place to live for those who suffer from these conditions. After all, it’s very challenging to be helpful and take steps toward positive change when you have no idea who you’re helping or what needs to be met.