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All-New 2016 Scion iM listed on KBB.com’s 10 Best Back-to-School Cars List

Friday, July 31, 2015 0 comments

As another school year rapidly approaches, the all-new 2016 Scion iM hatchback earns extra credit by offering maximum versatility and premium features at an outstanding price. The expert editors at Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com ranked the 2016 Scion iM hatchback sixth on their “10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2015” list.

The annual list highlights new vehicles recommended for students that aim to not only bridge the gap between practicality and functionality, but also deliver a fun and stylish package for around $20,000 or less. The iM hits showrooms on Sept. 1, 2015.

KBB.com editors commended the 2016 Scion iM hatchback for its efficient 4-cylinder engine that will provide drivers with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 37 mpg highway. Editors also highlighted safety features ranging from the hill start assist to eight airbags, in addition to student-friendly perks like the six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity and opportunity to personalize with dealer-installed accessories.

“To earn KBB.com recognition for the Scion iM before the vehicle arrives in showrooms validates Scion’s commitment to build vehicles that fit our drivers’ lifestyles,” said Scion Vice President Doug Murtha. “The KBB.com experts praise the iM hatchback for its customizability and safety, features that will resonate with students and parents while maintaining that Scion uniqueness our drivers want.”
The 2016 Scion iM is priced at $18,460 MSRP for the six-speed manual transmission and $19,200 MSRP for the CVTi-S automatic with 7-step shifting. It comes standard with a 7-inch Pioneer® Touchscreen Display Audio System with HD Radio™ Technology and the Aha™ app, providing Facebook and Twitter feeds, and access to over 100,000 Internet radio choices.

For more on the 2015 winners, visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/best-back-to-school-cars-2015/.

All prices listed above exclude the delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $795.

Police Silence, Sandra Bland, and the #cultofcompliance

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Louis Hayes, police trainer and reformer, has a new blog up on the role the Cult of Compliance plays in keeping police silent in cases like Sandra Bland.

1) Remember - everything the police officer did was wrong. He pulled out behind Bland abruptly, she moved over to get out of his way, and he pulled her over to give her a ticket for not using a signal. Bland was doing nothing wrong before she got out of the cop's way. This is what profiling looks like. He saw a black woman and decided to find a reason to pull her over.

2) Then he escalates the situation in countless, unprofessional, ways. He commands her to put out the cigarette, then responds to her lack of compliance with threats and eventual violence.

Cops have not criticized Encina, the officer, for his actions. Here's what Hayes writes.
There is a segment of law enforcement officers and trainers who believe:
a citizen’s failure to immediately comply with a police officer’s orders should be
  • assumed to be a physical threat to the officer’s well-being.
  • a citizen’s perceived disrespect is a sign of danger.
  • a citizen’s disobedience is a challenge to the authority of established law.
Of course, as with anything, there are varying levels that these feelings and attitudes take hold in officers and trainers. Some officers don’t subscribe to these beliefs at all. But when I first heard the term #CultOfCompliance from freelancer David M Perry, I thought the term awfully fitting — a cult being a sub-group with entrenched beliefs, within a larger community – in this case, the police community.

How has this sentiment of Cult of Compliance taken root in law enforcement? I only have theory. Maybe because of the traffic stop videos and war stories used in police academies? These videos and stories are shared with new recruits to demonstrate that even quiet little old ladies and 12-year old girls can be as deadly as a ninja….and ballpoint pens and umbrellas as dangerous as a samurai sword.
Hayes goes on to criticize Sandra Bland in ways that I think are a mistake. It's true that Bland was rude, but again, let's back up - Encina initiated that by pulling her over after he profiled her. But still, Hayes is writing for a law enforcement audience and they are going to see Bland's refusal to be perfectly compliant as at fault. That's what we need to work on.

Being rude to a police officer, especially one who has behaved as egregiously as Encina in profiling Bland, is a constitutional right. It's not a threat.

#CultofCompliance - Police Attack Man Having a Stroke

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I missed this story of a police officer tasing a man who was having a stroke. This is from May. The officer has resigned.

Welcoming a Newborn with Down Syndrome

Thursday, July 30, 2015 0 comments
There's a new book published (download for free) on Welcoming a Newborn with Down Syndrome. It looks great and the authors are excellent.
This book offers support and accurate, reliable information to the new parents of a baby with Down syndrome. The book covers topics like breastfeeding, adjusting to a diagnosis, preparing siblings, understanding medical issues, preparing for the future, and, most importantly, it shares diverse stories about the daily lives of families whose children have Down syndrome at different ages.
Download it and read it! What do you think?

The W Washington Hotel Issues a Semi-False Statement

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 0 comments
On Sunday night, a security guard refused to let two friends with physical disabilities use the accessible door to the W Washington Hotel. I wrote about it and the hotel sent me a statement over email. It's mixed. I'm posting the whole thing in italics, but breaking it up and adding emphasis on a lie.
The W Washington DC Hotel is fully committed to ensuring that its facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. We deeply regret the breakdown in communication with hotel security concerning use of the main accessible entrance for individuals with disabilities on the evening of July 26.
The F Street entrance of the hotel, which is an accessible entrance, is typically used as the primary entrance of the hotel. On the evening of July 26, for security reasons, non-guests were directed to the 15th Street hotel entrance. An additional security officer employed by a third party was stationed at the F Street entrance to direct non-guests to the 15th Street entrance. Once the patrons explained that they required use of the accessible entrance, the security officer radioed the hotel for permission to grant them access. The hotel advised that the individuals should be provided access, and access was immediately granted.
The bolded section is fundamentally untrue. From my email to the manager.
When we said that we needed an accessible entrance, he asked us if we were guests of the hotel. We said no. He said, "Only hotel guests can use the accessible door." At that point, M went around to the other side and spoke to the person at the desk, and only as she began to talk to the desk attendant was L allowed to enter.
In fact, we were denied the right to enter, after saying that we needed an accessible entrance, about four times. M became so angry that she ran around the side of the building. You can read her tweets about the physical and emotional costs of this action.

Does it matter that this part of the statement is a lie? And why lie here? There are a few options. 1) The lawyers told the Hotel to lie. 2) The security guard lied to protect his job. 3) The manager on duty and the security guard colluded to lie to protect their jobs.

There is some good here, though, as the statement continues:
We apologize that our security procedures in this rare situation compromised immediate use of the accessible entrance for these patrons. Hotel management has reminded its own staff that the F Street entrance is always to be made available for any person requiring an accessible entrance, regardless of any other temporary restrictions in place. The hotel will ensure that in the future any third party security and other temporary staff are reminded of these procedures as well.
We are disappointed that this incident occurred, as we are committed to complying with applicable accessibility laws and ensuring the best possible experience for all of our guests and visitors.
So that's good. I hope he realizes that it wasn't just this one security officer, but everyone, including the on-site management who didn't recognize the severity of the statement, calling it an inconvenience. I wrote back:
It was very troubling that not only did the security guard refuse to provide accessible entry, but also your staff did not recognize the gravity, and arguably illegality, of the situation. It's my hope that when instructing them about accessibility, you will remind your staff that disability is often not visible to the eye.
The general manager replied:
I was not there so we've pieced together the incident after the fact. Because of your experience yesterday, we are retraining our staff and any contract staff to be more proactive in the event we need to reroute customers from our main entrance. And to your point our employees will need to be reminded that disabilities are not always visible to the eye.
Anything outcome that helps people learn about invisible, or in this case less visible disabilities, is a good thing. Neither L nor M were using as wheelchair or cane/walker at this time, so it's entirely possible that the guard would have reacted differently had a mobility device been visible. But let's not forget the #cultofcompliance and the powerful nature of arbitrary rules in our society. The Man at Door F had a job to do - keep people from using that door for "security" reasons. The Man at Door F was going to do his job.

I'm a pragmatist. I'm happy that the hotel responded, that they are vowing better training, and I think the W will become more accessible as a result of this incident. But this lie at the heart of their statement irks me greatly, and I know it infuriates L, M, and S, who were with me, as well. We're discussing what to do next.

Hyundai Releases Do It Yourself Android Auto Installation For Sonata Owners

Tuesday, July 28, 2015 0 comments

Owners of a 2015 Sonata with Navigation can now get the Android Auto software update free of charge at MyHyundai.com (www.myhyundai.com). The software is also available for free at Hyundai dealerships nationwide. Hyundai is the only automaker to have Android Auto on production vehicles today, starting with the Sonata and soon expanding to other models.
“This is the first time we’ve made a software upgrade available using the MyHyundai portal,” said Michael Deitz, senior group manager of Connected Care, Hyundai Motor America. “Sonata owners can add more value with Android Auto in an easy-to-do upgrade that takes less than an hour. Hyundai is continuing to offer the best user experience possible by leveraging its MyHyundai platform, so customers have the option to update their car – their way.”
The Android Auto compatible Navigation system with an eight-inch touchscreen display is available on the Sonata Sport, Eco, Limited, Sport 2.0T and Limited 2.0T models. Consumers can watch the How To video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzMp9dwZW-E) , which is available on the Hyundai USA YouTube channel, for instructions on how to download the software and install it in their compatible vehicles. 

 
Android Auto download tool on myHyundai.com

To obtain the software, customers need to visit the MyHyundai owner’s site (https://www.hyundaiusa.com/myhyundai). If the owner does not have a MyHyundai account, they need to click register. To register, owners will need their name, e-mail address, zip code and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Once the owner has a MyHyundai account, they can login by entering their account ID and password. Upon login, the owner must perform the following steps:
  1. Select 2015 Sonata on the drop-down menu in the top left of the navigation bar.
  2. Once the owner gets to the Sonata 2015 screen, they can select downloads in the navigation then the Android Auto downloads drop-down.
  3. On the Android Auto downloads page, the owner must agree to the terms and conditions to activate the download button.
  4. Once the download button is active, clicking it will start the download.
  5. Once the download is complete, the owner opens the downloaded file and selects run.
  6. Upon completing the download, the download tool will start.
  7. At this point, the owner connects a compatible USB driver to their computer.
  8. The download tool will automatically extract the downloaded files and put them on the USB drive.
  9. A confirmation screen will appear when the download is complete.
     
Vehicle Software Update steps:
  1. Park the car in a well-ventilated area and start the engine.
  2. Connect the USB drive with the vehicle software on it to the USB port in the Sonata.
  3. Press the setup button near the radio controls.
  4. Scroll down and tap the System Info icon on the touch screen.
  5. Tap update at the bottom of the touch screen.
  6. The Software Update will begin automatically.
  7. Enable Android Auto. Navigate to Connectivity Settings in the Setup menu to find the enable Android Auto on/off switch.
     
Installing Android Auto on the Phone
  1. Connect an Android Auto compatible phone to the Sonata via a micro USB cable and download the Android Auto app when prompted.
  2. Then the customer needs to hit the Android Auto icon on his or her touchscreen and Android Auto is ready.
Android Auto in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata
Android AutoAndroid Auto not only brings a high technology experience to Hyundai owners, but also improves safety. For example, at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. 1 Android Auto helps keep drivers’ eyes and attention on the road by integrating the advanced driving-related functions of the user’s smartphone with the familiar centralized screen, physical controls and microphone of their car. Furthermore, the smartphone’s screen becomes “locked,” so drivers are not tempted to look down and interact with their phones directly while Android Auto is in use.
Owners will need the Android 5.0 “Lollipop” operating system or later, and the Android Auto companion app on their compatible phone to utilize Android Auto in the Sonata. A micro USB cable is required to connect the phone to the car’s USB port. The first time an owner plugs his or her phone into their parked Sonata, the phone will prompt the download of the Android Auto companion app from the Google Play. Users of Android Auto will instantly recognize familiar Android phone applications, such as Google Maps, Google Now, messaging, phone calling and Google Play Music upon connecting their Android phone to their Hyundai vehicle. These applications can be controlled by voice, steering wheel controls and touchscreen. Android Auto also will offer many popular third-party audio apps that owners have on their phones, including iHeartRadio, Spotify, TuneIn, NPR, Stitcher, Slacker, Skype, TextMe and many more. Owners can find out up-to-date information about phone compatibility at Google Support for Android Auto (https://support.google.com/androidauto).
 
Advantages of Android Auto 
  • The Google Now card-based experience provides suggested locations and travel times based on the user’s searches, calendar entries and home and office locations, as well as weather information and “now playing” information for music streamed via the phone
  • App software (navigation, streaming music, etc.) is automatically updated because the apps live on the phone
  • Natural voice recognition with Talk to Google
  • Owners can easily bring their personal reminders, suggested destinations, calendar appointments and music preferences with them when they get in their car
  • Android Auto automatically pairs with the Sonata for phone calls through Bluetooth when connected for the first time via USB
  • Android Auto has familiar interfaces that are easy to use and have almost no learning curve

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAHyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling. 

Nissan Murano tops Midsize SUV segment in 2015 J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL)℠ Study

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Three Nissan models have been recognized as being among the most appealing vehicles to own and drive in their segments in the just released J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Automotive, Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM – led by the totally redesigned 2015 Nissan Murano crossover's top finish in the Midsize SUV category. Murano scored a total of 853 points, a 58-point improvement over the previous generation Murano design and 35 points above the second place finisher in the segment.

The 2015 Altima, Nissan's best selling vehicle, improved three positions over the 2014 study to tie for second place with a score of 817, just two points behind the leader in the Midsize Car segment. The 2015 Nissan Frontier finished third in the Midsize Pickup segment behind two recently introduced pickups

The annual APEAL Study, now in its 20th year, surveys purchasers and lessees of new vehicles, giving owners a platform to evaluate their cars, trucks and SUVs across 77 specific attributes. The results are combined into an overall APEAL score measured on a 1,000-point scale. The study found that some safety features, such as blind spot warning and parking assist systems, substantially improved owners' sense of security – and satisfaction – with their vehicles. Nissan continues to offer a range of advanced safety and connectivity system technologies across a wide application of vehicles and trim levels – including Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Driver Attention Alert (DAA) and Around View® Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD).
"Given its bold new design, the APEAL Study results showed that exterior and interior styling are by far the leading purchase reasons for Murano buyers," said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing and Operations, U.S.A., Nissan North America, Inc.
Sales of the new Murano are up nearly 40 percent for the year through June (versus 2014), attracting many new buyers to the Nissan brand.

The all-new Murano features Nissan's new exterior design direction with V-Motion front end, boomerang lights, floating roof treatment and efficient aerodynamics. Inside, the new Murano offers an engaging social lounge feel through features such as the refined lower-height instrument panel, wide center console, advanced Zero Gravity seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof. All 2015 Murano crossovers come equipped with a standard 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and Xtronic transmission with D-step logic. Murano is offered in front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
"We are also extremely pleased with the strong showing of the 2015 Altima, which finished above its two main sales competitors in the segment with a 13-point improvement over the year before," said Diaz. "Like Murano, Altima offers advanced technology systems at an affordable price point."

The 2015 Nissan Altima, one of the top selling cars in the U.S., offers a rewarding driving experience, premium exterior and interior and driver-focused technology. Its standard 182 horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine provides 38-mpg highway fuel economy. Altima is available in a choice of five models, including a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6-equipped Altima 3.5 SL.

The 2015 Nissan Frontier continues to be a sales leader in the midsize truck segment, combining premium hardware, extraordinary power and an exceptional level of on- and off-road performance. The Frontier Crew Cab is offered in five trim levels, led by the dynamic Frontier Crew Cab PRO-4X.


To view the complete results of the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM, visit http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/performance.htm.

More Anti-ADA Hate

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The USA Today has a piece slamming the ADA. This is a DO NOT LINK URL, so as not to give it more attention than it deserves. It's the usual libertarian dreamworld in which accessibility just magically happens and no one has to do anything. And he picks egregious examples of lawsuits under the ADA - lawsuits that were almost uniformly thrown out or decided against the plaintiff - and blames the ADA for it. Americans like to make up reasons to sue. Courts usually handle such things fine.

 It's useful, though, amidst all the unity and community surrounding the ADA celebration, to remember that this argument (I call it the Sununu argument, after GHWB's Chief of Staff who did everything he could to stop, or at least gut, the ADA) is still going strong.

 In fact, every time an otherwise good person identifies themselves to you as a libertarian, you should ask them about disability policy. I've been looking for a libertarian answer to disability rights for a few years now and haven't found one.

 The ADA is the kind of law that makes me a progressive. I believe it takes federal regulations to make certain kinds of change happen, and I believe that the ADA is a major example of that. We have much more to do.

2015 Toyota Corolla S Premium

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The 2015 Toyota Corolla has a sophisticated design with a sporty drive perfect for a first time driver and the experienced commuter. This vehicle is exceptional on gas with the auto eco mode it helps you go the distance it adjusts the air conditioning for enhanced fuel efficiency which yields a 29 city and 37 highway MPG. If you prefer a sportier driver you can utilize the paddle shifters which let you shift gears without letting go of the wheel, with just a light touch on either lever, allowing gear changes to happen lightning fast.


 The available sport button on the center console of Corolla S allows you to enable Sport Mode, in which the Engine Control Unit and simulated shift points are adjusted.
The Moonroof






Push to Start

Corolla S offers a piano-black grille highlighted by chrome trim. 

  • Price: $22,905 MSRP
  • Seating Capacity: 5
  • Technology to make life easier. Available Entune™ Premium Audio with Navigation and App Suite. Its 6.1-in. touch-screen display, backup camera, navigation and suite of apps help you stay connected.
  • A Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) comes standard on every new Corolla. Designed to monitor tire pressure at all times, it alerts the driver when a tire or tires become critically underinflated and is one more way Corolla helps keep you safe.  
  • Every new Corolla is built with the Star Safety System™, an advanced integration of active safety technologies designed to enhance traction, braking and more.

Live-Tweeting The White House Champions of Change - Disability Champions

Monday, July 27, 2015 0 comments
I'm at the OEOB to live-tweet an event honoring a wonderfully diverse group of disability advocates. It's going to be a spectacular event and I'm honored to have been invited. Maria Town, the disability liaison in the Office of Public Engagement, believes that tweeting can function as a way to increase accessibility of events like this. I'll be joined by Emily Ladau, one of my favorite disability writers, and others, on the hashtag #WHChamps

Here's the press release (click through for the full thing).
WASHINGTON, DC РOn Monday, July 27 the White House will honor nine disability advocates across generations. The event will be held in conjunction with celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that promises equal access and equal opportunity -- regardless of ability. The event will celebrate the success of the ADA and recognize both long-time disability advocates and young Americans with disabilities who are working to uphold and expand the spirit of the ADA. The program will feature remarks by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Mu̱oz, former baseball player Jim Abbott, and American football fullback Derrick Coleman.

Maintenance Monday: Roadside Assistance

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You can never predict whether you’re going to need roadside assistance for a flat tire, dead battery or other vehicle issue, but if you’re a member of a roadside assistance program, you’ll be covered when it happens. Roadside assistance programs are most often offered along with new or certified used car purchases, by stand-alone companies, or as add-ons through your insurance, or cellphone company.

New or used cars

If you’re purchasing a new or certified used car that is still under warranty, you may have free roadside assistance coverage for a limited length of time or mileage. Automotive industry resource Edmunds has compiled a list of roadside assistance coverage for new cars by manufacturer. Each automaker sets its own limits on how long the free service will last by mileage or age of vehicle.  Covered services vary per manufacturer or dealer and may require that the vehicle is towed to the nearest dealership, which could result in high repair costs.


Stand-alone companies

AAA may be the most well-known roadside assistance program, but there are several others that are worth a look.  Most programs cover basic roadside assistance: jumpstarts, flat-tire assistance (using your spare), fuel delivery (usually at cost), lockout assist (with a fee if a locksmith is needed), and towing and extrication, though limits vary greatly on these.

AAA
Membership covers an individual.  Plans are based out of regional offices, so costs and coverage may vary per region.
  • Cost: Basic or plus membership options; fees vary by region: Around $56 for basic or $90 for plus (single), $91 or $151 (2 members), $126 or $206 (3 members), and $161 or $262 (4 members).  There is also a $10-$20 signup fee.
  • Coverage:  Up to three calls per year for basic, and five calls per year for plus for individual members.  Standard assistance mentioned above is covered, plus three miles of towing with basic, or 100 miles covered for plus.
  • Extras:  No-fee travelers checks, trip tickets, maps and travel discounts.  Attraction ticket discounts: $1-$12 off tickets for zoos, amusement parks, water parks, movie theaters and more.
Better World Club
It’s the only “green” auto club that provides discounts for green cars and green travel.  It also offers bicycle coverage add-ons and options. The service also touts a 30-60 minute response time.  Membership covers an individual.
  • Cost:  $55.95 for basic or $89.95 for premium (bicycle, motorcycle or RV plans also available).  You can add up to three additional members for $25 or $35 per person respectively.  There’s a $12 new member sign up fee, which is waived if you’re making the switch from AAA.  They will also match AAA membership costs if you’re an AAA member.
  • Coverage:  Up to four calls per year for individual members. Standard assistance is covered, plus five miles of towing with basic, or 100 miles covered for premium (no secondary tows from a repair facility).
  • Extras:  If you drive a hybrid, diesel or biodiesel vehicle, your membership fee will be discounted. Better World will  match your AAA membership fees.  It can provide travel services and discounts (some with fees), free maps/trip routing and discounts with other eco-friendly companies.
AARP Roadside Assistance
Available for those 50+.  AARP membership is required at $16/year or $43/three years
  • Cost: Standard plan costs $36 (single), $46 (couple) or $66 (family up to 4 dependents);  Premier plans are $61 (single), $71 (couple) or $91 (family up to 4 dependents).
  • Coverage:  Up to four annual calls for single, five calls for couple, or seven calls for family. Standard services, plus five miles towing for Standard or 100 miles towing for Premier.
  • Extras: Lodging and car rental discounts.
GM Motor Club
This plan may be more expensive for individuals, but less expensive for families.
  • Cost:  $84 couple, $99 couple with one child, or $114 couple with two children.
  • Coverage:  Members are covered in any passenger car; includes basic services plus unlimited towing to repair facility.
  • Extras: Free maps, discounts, trip planning and some expense reimbursement if you have an accident more than 100 miles away from home.
Good Sam Roadside Assistance
Good Sam members get a discount off regular fees.  This service also offers one of the more comprehensive RV assistance programs.
  • Cost: $59 for Good, $69 for Better or $79 for Best plans for new members.
  • Covered:  Up to five calls per year.  Good – owned vehicle is covered, basic services plus towing up to 100 miles.  Better – Owned vehicles plus spouse and dependent children are covered, basic services plus unlimited towing to nearest facility (no return towing).  Best – Covers all of the above plus travel discounts, coverage for motorcycles and trailers, leased, borrowed, or rented vehicles, and auto service discounts.
  • Extras:  Three months free Internet special.
Allstate Motor Club
This plan is less expensive, but it only covers up to a certain amount of assistance, which could easily be used up in one service call.
  • Cost:  $52 for Roadside Advantage or $108 for Deluxe.
  • Coverage:  Covers immediate family members in any car. Standard assistance is covered, plus towing, but only up to $100 benefit for Roadside Advantage or $150 benefit for Deluxe for all services.
  • Extras: Some travel planning and discounts. A service provider is guaranteed to arrive within 30 minutes of the dispatch time estimate or you receive 25% off next year’s service.
Allstate Good Hands Roadside Assistance
This plan boasts no annual fee and flat fees when you need services.
  • Cost:  No annual fee; most basic services cost $50 or $75 per tow.
  • Coverage:  Up to five registered drives and vehicles are covered.
  • Extras:  Nothing – you only pay for the services that you use.

Add-on Coverage Plans

These plans are offered by select cellphone companies, auto insurance companies and credit cards. You either pay a small fee on your normal bill, or are only charged with you utilize the plans.

Phone companies

AT&T Roadside Assistance
I’ve used this service for towing to and from a nearby repair shop and all charges were covered.
  • Cost:  $2.99/month billed monthly, 30 days free ($36/year).
  • Coverage:  Up to four calls per year with a $50 service benefit per call.  This service follows the phone, covering drivers or passengers, family members or friends, your car or theirs, as long as the enrolled phone is present. You, or anyone you authorize, can use the service. This plan provides up to $50 of coverage for basic services within 72 hours of enrollment, along with towing (for mechanical failure only), winching up to 30 minutes and minor mechanical adjustments.  For services over the $50 limit, payment must be made at the time of service and will not be billed to the cellphone account.
  • Extras:  Avis rental car savings. AT&T does not charge for up to three gallons of fuel (many companies charge for the fuel cost).
Verizon Roadside Assistance
  • Cost:  $3/billed monthly per cellphone line.
  • Coverage:  Up to four service calls per year.  Coverage follows the cellphone, so any vehicle is covered as long as the phone is present.  Coverage is active 48 hours after enrollment and includes basic services, plus towing up to 10 miles (for mechanical failure only) and winching (up to $100 worth).
  • Extras:  No charge for up to three gallons of fuel.

Insurance companies
Most insurance companies offer a towing and labor add-on for $2-$5 per month that includes basic services and some level of towing.  Some companies require that you have comprehensive and collision coverage.  Before you sign up, find out whether service calls are treated like a claim and will result in higher premiums.

Source:

Discrimination on the Anniversary of the ADA

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"Only hotel guests can use the accessible door."

Logo of the ADA 25: 1990-2015.
From http://www.adalegacy.com/
It's 11 at night on the 25th anniversary of the ADA and the four of us have just arrived at the W Washington hotel. They have a spectacular bar on the rooftop with a view looking out over the White House and a gloriously illuminated city. After a hot and humid day, the air is a little cooler at night, and the car from the Kennedy Center, where we had just celebrated the signing of the ADA and heard from leaders and felt the strength and power of our community. It ended with the fabulous Diane Schuur playing a short set, and her "Louisiana Sunday Afternoon" is still ringing in my head.

S, one of my companions, directs our driver around to the side door where she knows its more accessible. L and M, the other two, have physical disabilities and, after a long day, would find it much less painful to avoid going up steps. From this door, we can just walk through straight to the elevators and up to the bar. Honestly, I need a drink.

And the security guard says no. He says the door is closed. We sputter a little, looking at each other, wondering if this is really happening. One of us, probably M, speaks first, saying that we need the accessibility this door provides. At that point, accessibility should be a magic word, but instead the guard hardens his commitment to compliance. We each speak, hesitantly, then more forcefully, trying to get the guard to realize he's making a mistake. On tonight, of all nights, to this group of four - journalists, writers, performers, disability rights experts - he just doesn't do this. He asks, "Are you guests of the hotel," and we reply that we are not, but want to go to the bar (it's a bar open to the public, of course, so this is not unreasonable).

His reply is that only hotel guests have the right to accessibility.

M has had it. Despite the pain it causes her, she literally runs around the corner, up the steps, and right at the desk. I trail behind, just in case she needs anything, but not to get in her way or play abled savior. She does not need my help. Outside, the guard opens the sacred door, seems M at the desk, and perhaps realizes he's messed up, and just lets L and S in.

At the desk, the manager on duty apologizes for the inconvenience, to which I reply, "it's not inconvenient, it's illegal."

This is discrimination. It's a micro-aggression, the small acts of control that an ableist society asserts over people with disabilities. And it matters. It shows us that the ADA may be great and powerful, and it is, but we have a lot of cultural to do before this kind of denial of accessibility, when explicitly invoked, becomes unthinkable. 

I've called the hotel for a comment and we'll see what they say.

Updated with tweets from L and M (used by permission)



Happy 25th Anniversary to the ADA (from Google)

Sunday, July 26, 2015 0 comments
Exactly 25 years ago, President George H. W. Bush took the stage in front of thousands of people, the largest White House crowd in history, and signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. It was the work of so many people, in many venues, over decades. It stands, today, as one of the most important civil rights acts in American history.

It has long seemed to me that the history of the disability rights movement, however, is not so well known, especially compared to other civil rights struggles. The movement has its visionary leaders, acts of severe discrimination, its inspiring acts of civil disobedience, its political heroes - but it's a marginal story, rather than a central one, despite over 50 million Americans having disabilities. I've been so gratified seeing the many efforts to change that over the last few months, such as the ADA Legacy Project and the various efforts that went into it. I hope to see the mobile museum this afternoon, in DC.




And now there's Google. Last month, I was invited to be a part of Google.org's commemoration of the ADA. Google has committed 20 million dollars to the Google Impact Challenge, looking to fund ideas that could radically change the nature of assistive technology today. This focus on disability and technology led them to celebrate the history of the disability rights movement. The commemoration celebrated ten leaders of the past and presents of the movement, activists and politicians alike, and people with all kinds of disabilities. It was my honor to interview some of the subjects and co-write all the profiles on the site, working with a great team of writers, designers, artists, filmmakers, and more. Google is committed to working on disability issues, has embraced the social model of disability, and wants to use technology to improve accessibility for all.

The site is rich. Each subjects gets a short video in addition to the longer overview video above. The profiles build out from scenes in their lives, focusing on social model issues and the way these leaders have worked to make the world a better place. They are, of course, just a few leaders in what's a big and vibrant movement, and I tried to have the profiles reflect that as well.

Please read and share. Hopefully more to come on the Google Impact Challenge, their plans for the Cultural Institute commemoration of the disability rights movements, and more.

Happy ADA 25!


Sandra Bland and Disability

Friday, July 24, 2015 0 comments
When Brian Encina slammed Sandra Bland's head into the ground, this happened:
Encinia: Get on the ground!
Bland: For a traffic signal!
Encinia: You are yanking around, when you pull away from me, you’re resisting arrest.
Bland: Don’t it make you feel real good don’t it? A female for a traffic ticket. Don’t it make you feel good Officer Encinia? You're a real man now. You just slammed me, knocked my head into the ground. I got epilepsy, you motherfucker.
Encinia: Good. Good.
Bland: Good? Good?
Female officer: You should have thought about it before you started resisting.
Here is Sandra Bland's booking form. The New York Times says:
The intake forms also said that Ms. Bland was taking an antiseizure medication, Keppra, for epilepsy. The drug comes with a warning label approved by the Food and Drug Administration that includes a long list of possible side effects, including depression, aggressive behavior and thoughts of suicide. It was unclear whether she had access to the drug while in jail.
A friend of mine notes that three days without one's anti-seizure medication might well affect one's mental state.

Here's a really important note from the editor at "This Bridge Called Our Health" (A Trans-Inclusive, Intersectional, Sex-Positive Health & Healing Blog by & for Women and Femmes of Color of all Genders.):
I think some of the discourse emerging from these ‪#‎IfIDieInPoliceCustody ‬&‪ #‎WhatHappenedToSandraBland‬ conversations are dangerously limited. Folks are saying “Sandra Bland was mentally sound” and “Black women like her would never commit suicide”, etc. Not only are we upholding precarious and dehumanizing ‘strong black woman’ archetypes that neglect to hold Black women in the fullness and breadth that we embody, but our failure to operate within a mental health & disability justice framework by making the assertion that Sandra Bland was ‘mentallly sound’ in order to prove that she did not commit suicide is a dangerous narrative that both devalues black people who navigate mental health difficulties and trauma and also erases their/our narratives from the conversation.
Stevens, the author, continues:
The carefully calculated last moments of Sandra Bland’s life of getting pulled over for a minor traffic violation on her way to work, being brutalized by law enforcement officers, and subsequently seized and held in captivity for being a Black woman is what killed Sandra Bland. THE STATE DID THIS TO HER. Whether she committed suicide or not THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Race occupies the center of this narrative. But intersectionality demands we think about gender too, and that's happening. And then we discuss class. And perhaps region (Texas racism vs Chicago racism). And so on. Disability needs to be part of this discussion.

At the moment that Bland identified as epileptic, FWIW, the ADA kicks in. It doesn't mean she can't be arrested, but it does mean she has the right to reasonable accommodations. When she spoke about her mental health at intake, again, the ADA kicks in. She can be incarcerated, but not without reasonable accommodations.

Don't erase her self-disclosed identity as a disabled person. And adding her status as a disabled person to the discussion doesn't erase her identity as a black woman.

And none of that excuses the state.

LA Auto Show Unveils the Next-Generation Auto Industry at Connected Car Expo

Thursday, July 23, 2015 0 comments

The Los Angeles Auto Show’sConnected Car Expo will assemble the companies and innovators that are redefining the automotive and transportation business.  The full day conference and exposition has out grown its previous space at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will now occupy virtually the entire JW Marriott at the adjacent L.A. Live entertainment complex.

“Expanding our campus to include the adjacent JW Marriott delivers a presentation room with capacity for 1,500 seats, 60,000 square feet of exhibit floor and dozens of meeting and hospitality areas,” said the show’s EVP and General Manager Terri Toennies.  “The demand on exhibit and hospitality space has already created limited availability.”

More than 25 speakers will outline their vision for the dramatic changes facing the auto industry as it collaborates with technology titans like Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm and dozens of other fast-moving tech innovators.  Influential experts from Google, Volkswagen, Continental, Movimento, Redbend, J.D. Power, Pebble and others will converge in Los Angeles to debate some of the industry’s most critical issues and identify opportunities and challenges that lie on the road ahead.  Selected by the CCE Advisory Board, this year’s conference topics focus on the hot-button issues including autonomous vehicles, car sharing, cybersecurity, 3D printing, over-the-air updates and much more.  The full tentative schedule can be seen at: www.connectedcarexpo.com/schedule.

In addition to the conference, CCE attendees will be able to discover the latest automotive innovations at the JW Marriott, where more than 30 companies will demonstrate their latest solutions and products. Companies participating include Auto Alliance, Covisint, Elektrobit, Faurecia, Garmin, Global Automakers, KPMG, Mojio, OnStar, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, QNX, whiteCryption, Wind River and dozens of start-ups and app developers.  The exhibit floor will also serve as this year’s stage for several auto-tech press conferences on Nov. 17.

“This collaboration between major auto and technology players, combined with the emergence of thousands of disruptive start-up companies, creates an unprecedented need for an automotive-focused forum connecting this rapidly changing industry,” said Lisa Kaz, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Auto Show and CCE.

Part of the LA Auto Show’s broader Press & Trade Days, CCE is the award-winning conference and trade show that unites innovators, manufacturers, futurists and influencers to further the convergence of technology and the automobile.  This year’s CCE kicks off with an evening welcome reception on Monday, Nov. 16, and is followed by LA Auto Show’s Press & Trade events at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Nov. 18-19.  Other CCE events start on Saturday Nov 14 & 15 including the Mojio hackathon and the UCLA Anderson School of Business Connected Car discussion taking place after the Monday evening reception at the JW Marriott.

Registration is now open.  CCE exhibitors and attendees with a three days pass will be able to witness this year’s vehicle debuts and have access to an all-new CCE networking destination at the convention center.

For more information visit www.ConnectedCarExpo.com and www.LAAutoShow.com.

Web Accessibility in the 25th Year of the ADA

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Tori Ekstrand has a great new piece on web accessibility at Slate. Here's the core argument. Go read the whole thing!
Web accessibility for the disabled makes sense for a number of key social and economic reasons:
1. Web accessibility is something we all want and need. According the National Council on Disability, about 25 percent of people will acquire a disability at some point in their lives—yet when polled, only 2 percent of Americans think it will ever happen to them. The point here is Web accessibility is something we all will want and need—at the very least, we will have a family member who will want and need it...Web accessibility will benefit all of us, particularly in mobile (think screen readers, natural-language voice tools like Siri, closed captioning, etc.). Web accessibility, developers say, is a form of innovation that helps to drive development. It also attracts new customers and offers employers the chance to consider disabled workers in their hiring decisions.
And
3. We’re missing a hugely important voice in society. When we don’t include disabled communities in arguments about health care, the economy, parenting, and more, we miss important viewpoints. In addition, disability activists are mobilizing online in ways that weren’t always previously possible, and they are talking to one another across disabilities and on platforms that need accessible standards to do that. We need to support that communication across and among disability groups with accessible standards.
We can do this. And it needs not to be up to individual writers (though simple things like picture description is up to me, and to you, and to each of us), but built into the infrastructure.

All-new 2016 Lincoln MKX is first to offer audio system from Revel

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A listening experience comparable to what’s offered only through very high-end home audio systems now is available in the all-new Lincoln MKX midsize utility, which went on sale in June.

Revel, HARMAN International’s most exclusive loudspeaker brand, worked with Lincoln engineers and designers to craft a 13-speaker Revel audio system and a 19-speaker Revel Ultima™ system for the all-new Lincoln MKX.

Since 1996, Revel has served its audiophile customer base with exceptional, award-winning home-audio equipment. Emphasizing science-based speaker architecture and acoustic precision, Revel systems are designed to re-create a musical performance as precisely and purely as it was recorded.
“The Revel audio system available in the all-new Lincoln MKX represents a new approach to ensure all occupants – not just the driver – enjoy the best listening experience,” said Kevin Voecks, Revel product development manager. “Over the course of three years and hundreds of hours of tuning and refining, our collaboration with Lincoln has created the most authentic audio experience possible.”


“‘Science of Sound’ means the placement, tuning, calibration and number of speakers are unique to each Lincoln model to ensure superior sound quality and audio accuracy,” Voecks said. “It blends precision technology with the human element of psychoacoustics to deliver a rich experience.”

 New technology for an elevated listening experience
 
In addition to important point-source architecture, Revel brings breakthrough audio technologies to Lincoln vehicles.

QuantumLogic Surround®, Revel’s next-generation surround-sound technology, delivers a multi-dimensional experience while eliminating the smearing effects that often hamper typical surround-sound systems. With QuantumLogic, Lincoln owners use the touchscreen to select from three distinct listening modes:
  •  Traditional stereo
  •  Audience, for an intimate concert experience where the boundaries of the vehicle seemingly disappear
  •  On Stage, a 360-degree experience that puts listeners seemingly in the middle of the soundstage, arranging individual instruments and musical elements throughout the cabin
Revel Ultima systems include Clari-Fi™, a patented HARMAN technology that works in real-time to rebuild audio details often lost during the digital compression process. Clari-Fi intelligently and seamlessly reconstructs digitally compressed music for an enhanced listening experience regardless of the source.

Revel’s proprietary hybrid amplifier strategy employs Class A/B and Class D amplification to provide extraordinary fidelity at any volume.

Key learnings from Revel’s double-blind testing for home audio systems were incorporated into the development of the audio system for the all-new Lincoln MKX. This particular test eliminates the look of a loudspeaker, allowing performance preferences to be evaluated solely on the listening experience.

This, in turn, helps develop loudspeakers with the flattest, smoothest and more extended frequency responses.

Further, Revel audio systems in Lincoln go through rigorous objective testing, along with subjective evaluation by trained listeners. Candidates must pass a series of nearly 100 listening tests to obtain trained listener status.

“Just as every Revel home loudspeaker must outperform target competitors during evaluations, every Revel system in Lincoln is held to the same standard and does not get released until it reaches target performance,” Voecks said. “Replicating the Revel home-audio sound in the all-new Lincoln MKX was an incredibly rewarding and challenging task, but one that will fully benefit the Lincoln client.”

Meet the All-new 2016 Fiat 500X Crossover

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The all-new Fiat 500X combines iconic Italian style with functionality, performance and available all-wheel-drive confidence. The vehicle is available in five trim levels. The Street series models, including the Pop, Easy and Lounge, feature the refined Italian style and design of the FIAT brand with a more urban appearance. The Trekking and Trekking Plus models feature a more aggressive and athletic look with unique front and rear fascia designs and satin silver accents. The base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2016 Fiat 500X starts at $20,000 (excluding a destination charge of $900, taxes, title and registration fees):
  • Pop: $20,000
  • Easy: $22,300
  • Trekking: $23,100
  • Lounge: $24,850
  • Trekking Plus: $27,100
The Easy, Trekking, Lounge and Trekking Plus models are all available with the Fiat 500X’s advanced all-wheel-drive system for an additional $1,900.


About the 2016 Fiat 500X
In the United States, the all-new Fiat 500X is available with the fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, with an output of 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The available 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 engine produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, and is paired exclusively to a nine-speed automatic transmission on all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models.

A disconnecting rear axle allows for reduced parasitic loss when available all-wheel-drive capability is not needed, improving fuel efficiency. The Dynamic Selector system allows the driver to choose from three modes (Auto, Sport and Traction +) for the most suitable vehicle configuration for different driving conditions.

The 2016 Fiat 500X offers up to 70 standard and available safety and security features.  Available features include Forward Collision Warning-Plus with full stop, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning-Plus, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection. Electronic stability control (ESC) with Hill-start Assist and electronic roll mitigation is standard on all models, as are seven air bags.

Loaded with technology and convenience, the Fiat 500X is available with features like Uconnect 6.5 radio with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen and navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, Uconnect Access Via Mobile, a 3.5-inch color thin-film transistor (TFT) cluster display, Keyless Enter ‘n Go with remote start, and heated front seats and steering wheel.

The all-new Fiat 500X is crafted at the Melfi plant in Italy.

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