Standard Access Research Articles

PictoAndes: A Customizable Communication Board for Inclusive Education and Multicultural Accessibility

Children with speech and language difficulties often face significant challenges in expressing their needs, emotions, and thoughts, which can lead to frustration, social isolation, and hindered participation in educational and social activities. Addressing this issue, we present a customizable communication board designed to facilitate effective and autonomous communication for these children. Unlike traditional solutions, this application offers a culturally adaptive and user-centered approach, enabling the inclusion of personalized pictograms, such as representations of familiar objects, to create a more relatable and engaging gamified experience. The platform “PictoAndes” leverages modern technology and gamification principles to transform therapy into an interactive and motivating process. By integrating pictograms that resonate with users’ unique contexts, the board enhances communication, strengthens emotional connections, and fosters a sense of belonging. Built on agile methodologies, the application provides a dynamic solution that adapts to individual needs and evolving challenges, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. The evaluation of the platform, guided by WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing communication barriers and promoting active participation. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 10, this project contributes to inclusive education and reduced inequalities by offering a practical and transformative tool. By empowering children to express themselves in meaningful ways, the customizable communication board represents a significant step toward enhancing the quality of life and fostering social inclusion for individuals with speech and language difficulties.

Development of Counseling Sites with Digital Accessibility Features for the Blind and Visually Impaired Students

Current counseling services, such as those available through sikons.upgris.ac.id, lack full accessibility for students with disabilities, particularly those who are blind and visually impaired. Studies reveal significant accessibility barriers across educational websites, impeding equal access for users with disabilities. This study addresses these gaps by developing an accessible counseling platform aligned with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure inclusive access for all students. Using the ADDIE model's structured stages of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation, this study aims to create a technically advanced, user-centered application that enhances usability and independence for students with disabilities. Results from user acceptance testing with 11 participants indicated a high satisfaction rate of 89,33%, demonstrating that the platform effectively meets users' needs, significantly improving accessibility and usability in educational counseling services. This outcome underscores the importance of integrating accessibility standards to foster inclusivity and equitable participation in digital educational resources.

Mobility Challenges and Inclusive Solutions for People with Physical Disabilities in India

This study examines the complex mobility challenges encountered by individuals with physical disabilities in India and seeks to identify inclusive solutions that can improve their accessibility and autonomy. Significant barriers to their full societal participation include inadequate infrastructure, limited transportation options, societal stigma, economic constraints, and gaps in policy implementation. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research incorporates surveys, interviews, and field observations to analyze these issues. The findings underscore the critical need for enhanced accessibility standards and their enforcement, increased investment in accessible transportation, greater affordability and availability of assistive devices, as well as inclusive educational and employment opportunities. Additionally, public awareness campaigns are essential to address social stigma. The research advocates for a comprehensive framework of inclusive solutions, which encompasses universal design principles, accessible transportation systems, assistive technologies, support services, policy advocacy, and participatory design methodologies. By adopting these strategies, India can foster a more inclusive and equitable society, enabling persons with physical disabilities to fully exercise their right to mobility and engage meaningfully in all facets of life. The researchers are collaborating with a prominent NGO active in the field of disability in Bengaluru, and a study involving beneficiaries of CSR Program driven in association of NGO partner is planned.

Legal Standards for Cross-Border Access to Electronic Evidence in Criminal Procedure: An Albanian Perspective on International Standards

Legal Standards for Cross-Border Access to Electronic Evidence in Criminal Procedure: An Albanian Perspective on International Standards

Diyarbakır Hasan Pasha Inn: A thorough evaluation of risk analysis and accessibility concerns

The importance of accessibility in maintaining historical and cultural structures is evident across all facets of society. It is crucial to ensure that these structures remain secure, readily available, and sustainable, as they represent significant cultural heritage for both the local community and tourists. In this study, the risk analysis and accessibility status of the historic Hasan Pasha Inn in Diyarbakır’s Sur district were thoroughly explored. The Inn holds a significant historical and cultural location on Gazi Street, across from the Ulu Mosque. The primary goals of the research are to identify current risks, conduct a methodical analysis, and offer suggestions for risk mitigation. The Inn’s accessibility was assessed by aligning headings with the accessibility guide. The analysis utilized the 5x5 L-type matrix method to systematically evaluate risks based on specific criteria and determine their relative importance. Risk factors were categorized as minor (0–6), medium (8–12), major (16–20), and disaster (25 and above). A total of 31 risks were identified and grouped under different headings. Precautions were suggested for each risk with the goal of reducing the Inn’s overall risk levels. Measures such as improving physical access, enhancing emergency preparedness, implementing safety measures, and undertaking maintenance and repair projects are being pursued to promote tourism and enhance safety in the neighborhood for both locals and visitors. The study concludes by outlining the necessary actions to improve accessibility and safety at the Hasan Pasha Inn, while also contributing to the preservation of this historic building. The proposed measures aim to make the Inn more accessible to both locals and tourists, and to ensure the sustainability of this culturally significant site. The findings of the study will serve as a valuable resource for enhancing accessibility standards and conserving historic buildings. The limited number of publications on accessibility in historical buildings reveals the need to raise awareness in this field and offer solution suggestions; Therefore, the work we carry out is of great importance. It is expected that this study will offer insights for future risk analyses and accessibility evaluations of similar structures.

US Army Accession and Retention Standards: Impact on Obesity and Medical Readiness

ABSTRACT Introduction Military body fat standards were implemented in the 1980s to prevent obesity and associated poor military readiness. In the past 2 decades, enforcement of existing Army body composition standards has been eroded by the steady increase in national obesity rates, the demand for new recruits especially during the 2007 surge in Iraq, and the COVID epidemic in 2020. The diminishing qualified recruit pool puts a new focus on accession standards. The purpose of accession standards is to ensure that recruits will meet soldier standards, but accession standards have been relaxed to improve recruitment with an assumption that most recruits will achieve the retention standards during initial entry training. A new method of percent body fat estimation (%BF) adopted by the Army in 2024 further liberalizes both accession and retention standards. This study examined the impact of current accession and retention %BF standards on the proportion of the US population that would be disqualified from Army service. Methods This analysis was based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) statistical sampling of the US population, where height, weight, abdominal circumferences, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) %BF data were available (n = 26,090, including 13,302 men and 12,788 women). The proportion of individuals in the NHANES data failing to meet weight screen and %BF standards based on age and sex categories were calculated using DXA and the new Army anthropometric method. A recent large dataset from another service was used to compare the new method to DXA. Results Near one-third to one-half of American men and women failed to meet the current Army body composition standard (29, 39, 48, and 50% of men and 39, 45, 46, and 50% of women for age groups 17–20, 21–27, 28–29, and 40–59). More men than women benefited from more liberal accession standards to enter the Army above the retention standard to which they will be held after initial entry training (an additional 12, 11, 15, and 15% of men and 7, 1, 2, and 1% of women who met accession standards exceeded retention standards and would be expected to lose %BF after entry). Approximately one-fourth of women exceeded %BF but were under the height–weight screen; <10% of men were in this category. No men but 16% of the youngest women had low lean mass (<35 kg). Discussion Army body composition standards are generous, extending to the limits of increased metabolic health risks and providing underestimates of actual %BF based on the behavior of circumference-based methods of body fat estimation. However, current standards do not accurately select or track physical readiness, especially for women, and should be updated. Modernization of physical readiness standards to meet the needs of the Army of 2030 could include adoption of new technologies that directly assess central adiposity, adequate muscle mass, and replace fitness testing with cardiac output metrics. With half of US adults projected to be obese by 2030, it is time for a review of the strategic goals of modernized military readiness standards.

The changing epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis: epidemic surveillance and disease prevention challenges

The increasing number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) reported in recent years in Europe and, more recently, in Poland is a consequence of factors related to climate and environmental change leading to increasing tick populations and human behavior favoring exposure. In Poland, there is considerable regional variation in the incidence of TBE, resulting, among other factors, from underreporting of all cases and limited access to laboratory diagnostics. The consequence is low public awareness of the disease and insufficient use of vaccination as optimal prevention. The current system of surveillance for TBE in Poland needs to be improved: the introduction of standardised standards of clinical practice and wider access to laboratory. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(6):569-582.

VIIDA and InViDe: computational approaches for generating and evaluating inclusive image paragraphs for the visually impaired

Background Existing image description methods when used as Assistive Technologies often fall short in meeting the needs of blind or low vision (BLV) individuals. They tend to either compress all visual elements into brief captions, create disjointed sentences for each image region, or provide extensive descriptions. Purpose To address these limitations, we introduce VIIDA, a procedure aimed at the Visually Impaired which implements an Image Description Approach, focusing on webinar scenes. We also propose InViDe, an Inclusive Visual Description metric, a novel approach for evaluating image descriptions targeting BLV people. Methods We reviewed existing methods and developed VIIDA by integrating a multimodal Visual Question Answering model with Natural Language Processing (NLP) filters. A scene graph-based algorithm was then applied to structure final paragraphs. By employing NLP tools, InViDe conducts a multicriteria analysis based on accessibility standards and guidelines. Results Experiments statistically demonstrate that VIIDA generates descriptions closely aligned with image content as well as human-written linguistic features, and that suit BLV needs. InViDe offers valuable insights into the behaviour of the compared methods – among them, state-of-the-art methods based on Large Language Models – across diverse criteria. Conclusion VIIDA and InViDe emerge as efficient Assistive Technologies, combining Artificial Intelligence models and computational/mathematical techniques to generate and evaluate image descriptions for the visually impaired with low computational costs. This work is anticipated to inspire further research and application development in the domain of Assistive Technologies. Our codes are publicly available at: https://github.com/daniellf/VIIDA-and-InViDe .

Adult Learning and Investment Practices of Persons with Disability in Informal Microfinance Groups in Uganda

Microfinance can be an effective strategy for poverty reduction among Persons with Disability. However, lack of investment and livelihood knowledge and skills and consumption tendencies may undermine this strategy. A qualitative case study that explored the investment practices of Persons with Disability in informal microfinance groups was conducted in Uganda. Findings revealed that despite barriers to learning and investment, Persons with Disability who had positive attitudes borrowed from informal microfinance groups and invested profitably. They learned from a wide range of sources in their community. The study concludes that despite barriers, Persons with Disability borrow and invest and that attitudes, knowledge and skills, severity of impairment and location, influence their investment choices. To enhance investment, it is recommended that barriers to adult learning and investment be removed through sensitisation and training, monitoring compliance with accessibility standards and policy reforms.

Fulfillment of the Health Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Indonesia has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and regulates the right to health services through Law Number 8 of 2016, but there are still challenges in ensuring equal access for people with disabilities in Indonesia. Lack of accessibility of health facilities and discrimination faced by people with disabilities. Using normative legal research methods and statutory provision approaches, this article examines how persons with disabilities can exercise their rights and how the Government of Indonesia implements policies to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The results show that despite legal protection efforts, gaps still exist in terms of physical accessibility and health services for people with disabilities. Many facilities do not meet accessibility standards, and medical personnel's understanding of the rights of people with disabilities is still limited. Even though several regulations in Indonesia emphasize equal access to health services, much attention is still paid to the issue of physical accessibility, inadequate information, and lack of understanding and awareness on the part of healthcare providers. To achieve equal access for people with disabilities, it is necessary to strengthen legal protection and implement policies and concrete steps in improving facilities, information, and education for health workers.

STAIR DESIGN AND FLOOR HEIGHT DIFFERENCES IN RELATION TO SAFETY CONCEPTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

The need for safe school buildings is further emphasized by the impact of natural disasters, which shows the importance of prioritizing investment in school infrastructure. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of the dimensions of the stairs with student anthropometry, regarding safety aspects in daily use, and provide design improvements to improve the safety of children in the school environment. This research is a descriptive-evaluative qualitative case study at SDN Ketawanggede from August 2023 to May 2024. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and document analysis. The results show that there are disparities in the implementation of safety and accessibility standards in schools with varying infrastructure conditions, focusing on both urban and rural areas, to identify disparities and best practices. The long-term impact of implementing safety measures, such as anti-slip materials, consistent step dimensions, and improved ramps, on the incidence of accidents and injuries among students, is analyzed. The practical outcome of this research includes actionable design solutions to mitigate safety hazards, particularly addressing differences in school floor heights and staircase dimensions. The study provides a valuable resource for policymakers, school administrators, and architects involved in designing and maintaining school facilities.

Judicial Federalism and Abortion in Mexico and the United States

As the US Supreme Court was preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Mexican Supreme Court issued a series of sweeping rulings to liberalize abortion—part of a larger trend across Latin America (Daby and Moseley 2022; Fernandez Anderson 2017; Reuterswärd 2020; Ruibal 2014). Mexico has created a nationwide standard of access to abortion services, whereas the United States has abandoned universal legal abortion and embraced a patchwork system in which each state has different laws regulating reproductive healthcare. Why are these two neighbors on such divergent paths? This contribution to the symposium compares the ways that federalism and judicial politics have interacted in Mexico and the United States to explain the different trajectories of abortion policy. The divergent paths of the United States and Mexico can be explained by the two countries’ different experiences with democracy and political and institutional differences between the judiciaries. A different civil-society and constitutional context also has played a role.

European standards of judicial control at the stage of pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings

The article examines the European standards for the judicial control at the stage of pretrial investigation in criminal proceedings, with an emphasis on the compliance of the provisions of Article 303 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights. In the conditions of reforming the Ukrainian legal system with the aim of integration into the European community, the problem of ensuring effective judicial control is extremely urgent. It is proposed under the European standards of judicial control at the stage of pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings to consider a set of legal norms, principles and guarantees enshrined in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and precedent practice of the European Court of Human Rights, which ensure an effective, fair and legal judicial review and control over the actions, decisions or inaction of pre-trial investigation bodies for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of a person. Groups of European standards in criminal proceedings are highlighted: firstly, standards relating to the legality of detention and detention, secondly, standards relating to the reasonableness of suspicion, thirdly, standards of effectiveness of pre-trial investigation, fourthly, standards of access to justice in criminal proceedings. It has been established that part of the standard of access to justice is the standard of effectiveness of judicial control. It has been proven that the standard of effectiveness of judicial control at the stage of pre-trial investigation is, in our opinion, an important element of access to justice, as it ensures: protection of the rights of individuals at the stage of pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings, transparency and accountability of the process, prevention of human rights violations, appeal of procedural decisions. It was concluded that although Article 303 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine provides tools for judicial control, the existing mechanisms do not always meet European standards due to problems of access to justice and speed of trial. The need to implement international standards is to ensure effective protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens and to strengthen trust in the judicial system of Ukraine. The work emphasizes that further adaptation of national legislation to European requirements will contribute to increasing the effectiveness of judicial control at the pre-trial investigation stage.

Acute canopy deficits in global cities exposed by the 3-30-300 benchmark for urban nature

The 3-30-300 rule is a recently proposed metric that sets minimum standards for access to nature in cities for human wellbeing. It specifies that homes, schools and workplaces should have a view of 3 trees, be in a neighbourhood with over 30% tree canopy cover and be within 300 m walk of a park. This metric is an important progression for assessing urban nature because it is easy to understand, highly local, and sets a pass/fail benchmark for green infrastructure. Using datasets of over 2.5 million buildings in eight cities, we show that most buildings fail the 3-30-300 rule due to inadequate tree canopy, even in well-known global cities (the cities are Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Seattle, Denver, New York, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney). The ‘3’ standard was met more often, while achievement of the ‘300’ standard was patchy. Further analysis indicates that existing trees are too small for adequate canopy cover. Cities should invest in improving planting conditions to support tree growth and enhance governance to reduce premature removals and excessive pruning.

Toward a better understanding of barriers to wayfinding technology use for people with disabilities

ABSTRACT Wayfinding is the process of navigating from one’s present location to their desired location. While wayfinding technologies are increasingly used by people with disabilities, there is little understanding of the barriers specific to wayfinding technology. The objective of this study was to understand the wayfinding technology barriers experienced by Canadians with disabilities. A total of 213 participants with varying disabilities (i.e. mobility, visual, hearing, memory and learning disabilities) completed a survey of open-ended questions about their personal experiences with different types of technologies. Technologies were categorized into public (i.e. digital and tactile interfaces) and personalized (i.e. mobile/website applications, wearable devices, smart assistive devices), and qualitative content analysis was used. Main themes were identified and either common across both groups (i.e. compatibility, demands on personal resources, information provision, interactability) or specific to one technology type (i.e. stigma, specific to personalized technology). Detailed subthemes provided greater specificity on the types of barriers encountered. For example, infection risk was noted as a barrier to public technology and high costs was a barrier for personalized technology. Results support the inclusion of wayfinding technology within accessibility standards and provide insights to clinicians on how to best support people with disabilities and their use of technology.

Abstract 4124084: Nitric Oxide Releasing Bionanomatrix Gel For Dialysis Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation

Introduction: About 600,000 patients in the US suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD); more than 75% of ESRD patients undergo dialysis. Vascular access dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in dialysis patients. Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are considered the gold standard of vascular access for dialysis. However, about 60% of AVFs fail to mature because of early venous neointimal development and poor vasodilation and vascular wall remodeling. Therefore, to promote AVF maturation, we propose the application of a nitric oxide (NO) releasing nanomatrix gel, or ‘NO gel’, on the created AVF. The NO gel is composed of peptide amphiphiles (PA), which contain a polylysine (KKKKK) group to form NO-donating residues. In this study, we test our hypothesis that the NO gel applied at AVF can promote AVF maturation by decreasing venous intimal hyperplasia, enhancing vasodilation and vascular outward remodeling in porcine model. Materials and Methods: PA containing with KKKKK was synthesized and charged with NO to produce NO gel. For in vivo studies, AVFs in porcine were created by connecting the jugular vein and carotid artery. The NO gel was applied perivascularly over the AVF anastomosis. And the pigs were sacrifice after 35 days. AVF hemodynamics were evaluated using MRI-based computed fluid dynamics analysis. Results: We found significant decrease in neointimal hyperplasia in porcine AVFs treated with NO gel compared to the control groups. Additionally, the percentage of open lumens was significantly higher in the NO gel-treated group. It is indicated that veins in NO treated group showed less fibrosis as an less type I collagen I produced in the NO treated group than control. Also, the NO gel significantly improved hemodynamics and vascular remodeling of porcine AVFs compared to the control. Conclusion: These results suggest that the NO gel plays a crucial role in AVF maturation by reducing intimal hyperplasia and stenosis following AVF creation in a pig model. When intimal hyperplasia is reduced and the vessel is dilated, less tensile force of blood flow is applied on the arterialized vein, directing the AVF to appropriate maturation.

The status quo of global geriatric radiation oncology education: A scoping review

PurposeTo identify potential gaps in geriatric radiation oncology (RO) education worldwide, as measured by geriatric oncology (GO) content within postgraduate RO training program (TP) curricula across 8 focus countries. Methods and materialsThe need for improved education around GO is internationally recognized and is a key strategic priority of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG).Two reviewers undertook a systematic scoping review from March to September 2023. Focus countries were selected using predefined selection criteria based on national radiation therapy (RT) service provision, RT access and post-graduate specialty training standards. This review is in accordance with evidence-based curriculum design methodology and represents the initial phase i.e., problem identification and needs assessment. ResultsOverall RO TP and curriculum elements varied by jurisdiction. Common elements included length of training, summative assessments and prerequisite requirements. Considerable variability exists across TPs around identified learning outcomes, content, TP organization, training networks and accreditation.Across 6 TPs, only 2 had any documented GO curriculum content. Of these, only one contained geriatric RO content scoring moderate to high based on accepted quality benchmarks. Outside official RO TPs, there is considerable GO online education content, including face to face courses, peer-reviewed articles, learning materials and resources relevant to RO postgraduate training worldwide. However accessibility to these learning interventions may be region specific and content is not standardized. ConclusionsAs expected, this systematic scoping review has identified significant gaps in GO education within RO TPs worldwide. These findings represent an essential step in the development of evidence-based recommendations for updating standards for GO training within RO training programs and establishing a globally accepted, standardized benchmarks for minimal geriatric RO education. In turn, this will ensure future radiation oncologists are able to deliver a high standard of care to and improve outcomes for older people with cancer.

InclusiveWeb : A Smart Browser Approach to Enhancing Web Accessibility for Users with Diverse Disabilities

This article presents InclusiveWeb, an innovative accessibility-focused web browser designed to enhance digital inclusion for users with diverse disabilities. The browser addresses the persistent challenge of widespread non-compliance with web accessibility standards by implementing real-time content adaptation mechanisms, disability-specific tools, and a highly customizable user interface. InclusiveWeb's architecture incorporates advanced machine learning algorithms to dynamically modify web content, offering tailored solutions for users with visual impairments, dyslexia, language disorders, cognitive disabilities, and ADHD. The article details the browser's design principles, technical considerations, and user experience features, supported by a comprehensive evaluation methodology involving user studies with various disability groups. Results demonstrate significant improvements in task completion rates, user satisfaction, and overall accessibility compared to standard browsers. While acknowledging limitations and areas for future research, this article highlights InclusiveWeb's potential to revolutionize web accessibility, shifting the paradigm from reliance on content creators' compliance to browser-level adaptations. The implications of this approach for web accessibility standards, digital inclusion, and future technological developments are discussed, emphasizing the browser's role in creating a more equitable digital landscape.

Military accession, retention, and deployment: Defining the role of the allergy consultant.

Knowledge of the military regulations is key to guiding medical evaluations for applicants and service members. Military and civilian allergy consultants are often called on for their expertise to provide guidance with regard to the allergic conditions that may be potentially disqualifying from service per the published regulations for accession and retention. This review focuses on the role of the allergy consultant in military accession, retention, and deployments. To better understand and attempt to define the role of the allergy consultant in the process of medical evaluation for military applicants and for active duty service members, in the context of the ongoing national recruitment and force sustainment crisis, it is imperative to comprehend the intricacies of military accession and retention guidelines. Military medical standards guidelines are easy to access and should be used when evaluating applicants or active duty service members with allergic conditions. Medical documentation that aligns with military guidelines can help our patients streamline accession, retention, and waiver requests. The objective of this review is to provide a framework for how to address allergic concerns in the context of military service and apply accession and retention standards as indicated for patients who present with common allergic diagnoses.

Hired by Artificial Intelligence: Digital Inclusion Practices for People With Disabilities

Artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly advances across various industries, including healthcare, finance, education, robotics, entertainment, and commerce. Human resource (HR) management plays a crucial role in AI, helping employees feel valued and creative. However, AI-powered systems often neglect the needs of people with disabilities, who often face barriers in digital environments. This paper aims to investigate digital inclusion practices for people with disabilities in AI-driven human resource management systems. It proposes a heuristic evaluation method for software accessibility assessment based on international standards. The objectives include researching best practices for digital workplace inclusion, studying international standards for software accessibility, and researching AI-powered recruitment systems. An experiment assessed the accessibility of color schemes for people with color blindness.