Historical Figures with Disabilities
This individual is very famous for becoming an author, political activist, and lecturer despite having both a visual and hearing impairment.
Who is Helen Keller?
A text version of the spoken part of a television, movie, or computer presentation that can be turned on or off.
What is a closed caption?
"No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such entity."
What is 'The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990'?
Which American sports tradition was invented to address players who were deaf and hard of hearing?
The American Football huddle
Referee hand signals
The scoreboard
Player numbers
(1) In the 1890s an American Football quarterback named Paul Hubbard created the “huddle” while playing for Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf and hard of hearing. The huddle was used to prevent opposing teams from seeing the sign language being used to communicate the next play to their teammates. It was such a great idea, and so useful, that every professional and amateur football team still uses the huddle to this day. Another example of “universal design!”
People who are blind have no perception of light.
False. Blindness is defined by the World Health Organization as vision in a person's best eye with best correction of less than 20/500 or a visual field of less than 10 degrees.
One of the most famous musicians of all time. This German composer struggled with a hearing impairment beginning at age 28, and continued to compose music by hearing the music in his head, and by feeling the vibrations of the piano.
Who is Ludwig van Beethoven?
Text used to describe the content of an image, graph, or chart.
What is alternative (alt) text?
The person who is responsible for making your content accessible.
Trick question! You are. But don't worry, you'll have help.
This invention was designed to make public streets more accessible to wheelchair users and was first installed as early as the 1930s in the UK, and in the 1940s in the US. What is the name of this invention?
A curb cut (U.S.) is a solid (usually concrete) ramp graded down from the top surface of a sidewalk to the surface of an adjoining street. Curb cuts were originally introduced to benefit mobility impaired people in wheelchairs, but they're used by nearly everyone. The “curb cut “effect inspired the field of Universal Design, which now used to design buildings and objects to be as usable for people with disabilities as for everyone, regardless of age or ability.
Everyone is affected by disability at some time in their life.
True. Disability can be situational, temporary, or permanent.
This famous Mathematician/Physicist had a learning disability, and did not speak until the age of 3.
Who is Albert Einstein?
A text version of the spoken part of a television, movie, or computer presentation that is on all the time.
What is an open caption?
The date when CT state and local governments must have accessible online content that meets the WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria.
April 24, 2026
For whom were long-play (LP) vinyl records originally intended?
From 1934 until 1948 long-playing records (LPs) were almost exclusively the domain of the visually impaired. They weren't being used for music. Instead, they helped blind people listen to a brand new invention—the audiobook. In the early 1930s, the American Foundation for the Blind took on the project to get "talking books" into the hands of blind Americans.
Websites that pass through automated Accessibility Testing Tools with no flags or errors are pretty certain to be accessible to users with disabilities.
False. Even the most state-of-the-art automated accessibility test tools are only able to evaluate and identify about 30% of the potential accessibility issues any site may have. Automatic testing is useful, but manual checks and user studies are the only way to ensure that a website is truly accessible and that users can complete all functional tasks.
This scientist/inventor is most well-known for patenting the first practical telephone. Many people do not know that he had dyslexia.
Who is Alexander Graham Bell?
A way to share the content of a podcast or other audio file in a text format.
What is a transcript?
Which of the following is NOT a regulation that requires equal access?
(3) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA ensures a free, appropriate public education, to eligible children with disabilities in the U.S. and ensures special education and related services to those children. The other regulations require equal access for individuals with disabilities.
This common household item, used for hygiene, was originally developed to help people who had limited mobility & strength.
The Broxodent electric toothbrush, which was Dr. Philppe Guy Woog’s invention in 1954, was helpful for those who had limited mobility & strength that and needed help brushing their gnashers. Today, they are recommended by Dentists across the world and are seen as a far superior tooth-cleaning device compared to the normal brush.
A puff-and-sip adaptive controller is often used by an individual with limited motor skills (movement of body parts).
True. It often appears as a “straw” on a wheelchair. In actuality, two switches are activated. When both are puffed, the wheelchair moves forward, sipped backward. When only one is activated, the wheelchair turns.
This world-famous cartoon artist went on to create one of the most popular motion picture companies ever. Many people do not know that he struggled with dyslexia his whole life.
Who is Walt Disney?
Audible narration in a video that is separate from the main, scripted dialogue and describes what is happening on the screen.
What are audio descriptions?
According to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, what is the minimum color contrast ratio between normal-sized text and background colors?
What is 4.5:1?
What assistive technology makes TV and video accessible for people who are blind or have low vision?
Audio description. Audio Description (sometimes known as Video Description or Descriptive Narration) narration spoken during silent portions of a video that provide additional context and information about what’s taking place on screen.
Screen readers will interpret color-coded text and announce changes in color.
False. Screen readers do not (yet) interpret colors.