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Podcasting is definitely taking off in popularity. The more specific type of podcast you listen to, the more likely you will listen to more of them. This applies to all people from various walks of life. However, if you have a disability, it may be difficult for you to get your hands on some podcasts easily.

This is where accessiBe comes in – acting as an artificial intelligence (AI) service that can create complete accessibility for any website. Michael Hingson, former national ambassador for the ‘Brail’ Literacy Campaign and chief vision officer at accessiBe, discusses how his company works with podcasters to make their content more accessible for people with disabilities.

Hingson details the problems with accessibility online, citing the fact that 380 new websites are created every minute, and programmers that make websites more accessible can’t keep up. As a result, we need a “scalable solution,” Hingson says.

The first main change that podcasters using accessiBe will see is that the information they already have is the same on their website as on their podcast. This makes it easier for them to move forward.

The next improvement will be in terms of captions. Hingson defines this as “the ability to hear something that’s happened at the same time when you were reading it.”

“That takes an extra step,” he says.

“It will be easier for people to discover your podcast because the accessiBe dashboard will make it easier for you to add in all of the metadata that’s going to help with search engine optimization, things like image descriptions and alternative formats.”

Hingson is quick to point out that accessibility doesn’t just apply to people with disabilities.

“If you have a new show, if it’s early on in your podcast listenership or even if you have hundreds of thousands of listeners – accessibility is hugely beneficial to everyone,” he says.

Hingson notes that accessibe is working with some popular podcasts to ensure what they offer works for all people, so there is no confusion with audiences or simply a lack of accessibility.

One podcast benefiting from the change is ‘What’s Tech,’ which discusses technology news and innovations daily.

“We are super excited about it because it means people can access all of our content…No matter whether they are actually watching the video or just listening to the audio – they see all of the same things.”

It may not seem like much, but it is to people with disabilities. It means that they can learn about technology news and innovations to keep up with what’s happening in their own lives or around them, which is great for the tech world as a whole.

“We are trying to make your content available to everyone. I believe that would be the internet’s highest calling.”

In closing, Hingson said: “If we all improve accessibility and make it for everyone, it will be much easier to learn about everything going on. Inclusiveness is not just the law; it’s also good practice for things like SEO and rankings.

Asylum is an immigration benefit that allows people to live and work lawfully in the US if they meet certain refugee criteria found under federal law. Asylum can be granted to those who have been persecuted, or have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

You’ve seen the news about foreigners spilling across the borders, forced to leave their countries because of persecution. You know that U.S. immigration law allows people fleeing persecution to file for asylum in America, but you’re not sure how it works or whether your situation qualifies. Before you break out your suitcase and head for the airport, here are five common myths about asylum — debunked!

1) I can get asylum if I’m being pursued by a gang or other criminals.

While seeking protection from threats is indeed one reason people flee their home country and seek permission to remain in America, many people who think they qualify don’t understand the difference between being persecuted by criminals or being threatened with criminal prosecution—which could land you in jail—and being prosecuted by a nation-state for specific crimes.

“People say, ‘I’m in fear of the gangs, they’re going to kill me,'” says Anne Richard, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration at the U.S. State Department. “We try very hard to explain that asylum is not for criminal prosecution.”

You can seek protection from persecution by criminals under U.S. law through a different process—by applying for temporary protected status (TPS), which is available to people already in America who cannot safely return home because civil strife or natural disasters are keeping them from their native land. But TPS doesn’t provide any path to permanent residency or citizenship; it’s just designed to keep you safe while you remain in the United States.

2) I’ll go to the end of the line if I lose my case.

You can certainly apply for one of the forms of protection that will let you remain in the United States while your deportation case goes forward—but don’t expect to jump ahead of other asylum seekers or immigrants with pending petitions. For example, if you win asylum but then request withholding of removal based on a fear of returning to your home country, you still have to wait behind people who already applied for withholding before you did, despite having won an earlier status-based “priority date.” In fact, even though DHS designated January 1, 1990, as a priority date to determine which cases would qualify under its new rules covering spouses and children of people who had won asylum in the United States, that date only applied to those who filed their withholding applications after November 1, 1997. Even if you win your case for asylum or withholding or Convention Against Torture protection, the U.S. will not just open up its borders and let you skip to the front of the line—you could still be waiting behind others who applied earlier than you did.

3) I’m not sure I’ll be persecuted if I go home; maybe it’s safe now.

Even if you can’t qualify for asylum, you may still be able to return home—if the dangers have subsided enough to let you safely travel back. That’s why the U.S. government encourages people to seek out “post-flight determinations” that evaluate whether it is safe to return after being granted asylum, through either parole or withholding of removal. This process grants at least temporary permission to stay in America while your native country organizes the paperwork needed for you to come back and file full asylum claims from home. But don’t leave without checking first! If you are already here in the United States, DHS will not let you board a plane unless you can prove that you have this permission.

I am from another country in Central America-I don’t need asylum

Even though violence against women is pervasive throughout all of Central America, it is often its worst there because of high levels of poverty, inequality, and corruption. Women who are raped, for example, maybe unable to report it because they fear retaliation by their attackers or even arrest by corrupt police forces—much less actually be heard. Further, women who fight back against domestic violence face stigmatization not only by family members but sometimes their own governments as well. While these problems affect both sexes throughout the region, females are particularly at risk because men hold the majority of leadership positions in all branches of government, which means that whatever laws it enacts will be enforced unequally based on gender. This is why so many families leave not just out of fear—but out of desperation—when even one parent (or another older member) can make a credible claim to have experienced persecution. Fortunately, the United States has a generous policy of allowing victims of such persecution to resettle here if they can prove their case—and it does not matter where in Central America they may have originally come from.

4) I have family members in the United States who will help me.

Having family or other connections in America does not automatically make you eligible for asylum. In fact, it probably counts against you: If your relatives are willing and able to assist you financially and emotionally, they can also be asked to sponsor your application from abroad. That means that a relationship with a U.S. entity—whether a person, an organization, or even a state government—is considered evidence of your ability to resettle successfully without needing federal assistance. DHS officers assume that people with international support networks don’t need asylum protection as much as those who lack such ties, so having those kinds of contacts causes doubt about whether you really face a serious threat.

5) I won my case, so now I’m a legal immigrant.

Not necessarily. You could be allowed to remain in the country as a “parolee” for humanitarian reasons. This doesn’t mean you have been granted a green card, but it does mean you may be able to stay if you can convince officials that your presence is justified for emergency or other humanitarian reasons. Be aware that even if your application is approved, this permission to stay temporarily does not guarantee future entry into the U.S., and any subsequent request for readmission will still require normal immigration requirements to be met—just like everyone else’s. In rare cases, an alien who is removed from the United States via deportation proceedings may reenter immediately upon winning his case, but only if DHS did not appeal and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) orders reopening and remands.

For more information, you may ask or consult with Houston immigration lawyers.

Unlike some creatures in the cold weather, squirrels don’t hibernate. With the advent of winter, they look for warm places to live and store their food. They often infest neighborhoods after neighborhoods for this, especially in the northeast part of the country.

Although they do not threaten human health directly, squirrels often carry diseases. Their urine and fecal matter release harmful toxins. They can also wreck furniture and house structures by gnawing through the wood. Squirrel removal near me helps families to get rid of squirrel infestation in their houses.

Signs of a squirrel infestation

Scampering sound overhead:

Gray or red squirrels running about in the ceiling, and the walls make a sort of scampering sound throughout the building. Their claws scratch on the wooden surface of the beams and other structures. Flying squirrels can mostly be heard at a lower volume.

Noises during the day:

Squirrels are usually active during the daytime, so that is when most of the sounds can be heard. This is unlike a raccoon or rat infestation, which can be heard only during the night. However, flying squirrels can be heard in the evening.

Squirrels going in and out of holes in the building:

If there is a squirrel infestation, the creatures can be seen going in and out of the building through several small holes and openings. On observation, they can be easily detected in these spots – soffits, vents, chimneys, plumbing stacks, and dormers.

Checking the attic:

The attics bear hard evidence of pests that can infest a building since they’re the most neglected and vulnerable spaces. If the squirrels have reached the attic, it means that it is time to call the pest control services.

How can squirrels harm you?

A squirrel infestation does not threaten humans directly. But they can carry diseases like typhus, plague, tularemia, and Dermatophytosis. Parasites like fleas, mites, and ticks can also nest in their fur. These, when carried to humans, may cause encephalitis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Squirrel bites can be extremely painful. They cannot cut through human bones, yet the cuts can be intense in fleshy body parts. The toxin released from their excretion can pile up in the building putting human health at risk.

Gnawing through wires and wood, tearing up insulation for nests, making nests in the vents, and cutting off the airflow can result in molds being formed. Squirrel removal near me can stop this destruction of property and poor air circulation.

How to get rid of squirrels infesting your house?

Although it is always the best and most needed option to call a professional pest control services worker, the homeowner can also do their bit in helping to reduce the chances of another squirrel outbreak. Some ways to stop squirrels from breaking into the building include:

● Trimming branches of trees till around six feet from the perimeter of the house

● Repairing chimneys, vents, holes, and cracks

● Calling a wildlife professional for detecting the damage

Conclusion:

Any pest infestation in the house can be harmful to the residents and incredibly frustrating for those with a squirrel infestation. A professional pest control worker can safely remove the squirrels, including any babies to whom they may have given birth. They are unloosed back into the wild while ensuring that the houses and buildings stay safe.