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Why “aging in place” is a growth industry

Apr 10, 2023
As members of the baby boom generation approach or reach their elderly years, more homes will need to be modified to accommodate them.
By 2030, every baby boomer will be at least 65 years old. That's likely to drive demand for certified aging in place specialists and products to support seniors' needs.
Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images

Talking credit cards help visually impaired people prevent abuse

Jan 31, 2023
Thales, a French firm, is launching a credit card that interacts with a user's smartphone to provide audio cues and transaction confirmations.
In Paris, Stephanie Khoeung tries out a new talking credit card that helps visually impaired people confirm transactions.
John Laurenson/Marketplace

Looking for a home that's accessible? That will make your search even harder.

Apr 7, 2022
A retired economist tells the story of her search for an accessible home.
There are no front steps at Nikki Finlay's new home. "I could walk straight in the front door," she says.
Courtesy Nikki Finlay

Coming soon to 250 AMC cinemas: English subtitles on every film

Oct 25, 2021
Open captioning is already common in videos on social media.
Open captioning could attract more viewers back to theaters amid pandemic. It's also part of Hollywood's effort to improve accessibility.
Tom Cooper/Getty Images

Biden administration seeks broader access to hearing aids

Jul 9, 2021
Just 14% of the 48 million Americans with hearing loss use them, partly because of cost. Biden wants to speed up efforts for over-the-counter sales.
President Joe Biden's executive order on competition could provide a boost to hearing aid accessibility, something many Americans need but still live without.
Chris Jackson via Getty Images

More Americans express enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccine

Apr 16, 2021
Black Americans are the least enthusiastic, which likely reflects a lack of both information and access.
The share of Americans who want a COVID-19 shot right away, or have already been vaccinated, has nearly doubled to over 60% since December.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

What happened to America’s public toilets?

Apr 13, 2021
In an excerpt from her new book, science journalist Chelsea Wald writes on the unintended result of a movement to ban pay toilets.
In her new book, “Pipe Dreams: The Urgent Global Quest to Transform the Toilet,” Chelsea Wald explores the problem and promise of toilet technology.
Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

For people who aren’t comfortable with technology or who aren’t able to be online at all, the current system can be a major barrier to landing a vaccination appointment right now.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Businesses face lawsuits over website accessibility

Jul 15, 2019
One Philadelphia-based company has decided to step in and prevent those suits.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Homework is much harder when you can't get online at home

Apr 4, 2019
What it's like to try to graduate high school without easy internet access.
Larry Brown gets online at the library or a friend’s house when he needs a good connection, bigger screen and keyboard to do homework. Like many New Orleans students, he doesn’t have internet service at home.
Jess Clark/New Orleans Public Radio