Articles about Accessibility

Accessibility is increasingly recognized as an important part of how organizations deliver value  across a number of industries, and rightly so. It goes beyond meeting legal requirements to improve user experience, promote inclusion, and build better services for all. Yet, despite the growing awareness, some organizations still see integrating accessibility into its processes as an isolated effort or something to be 'checked off' near the end of a project, prompted by upcoming regulation, user complaints, or reputational risk.

This reactive approach may satisfy compliance needs in the short-term, but it does little to build lasting, meaningful inclusion. Meaningful progress happens when accessibility is embedded into an organization’s everyday mindset and operations. In short, accessibility must become a fundamental element, not an afterthought. Adding accessibility to everyday practices instead of reserving it for emergencies allows companies to develop better products, rely on stronger teams, and be more resilient.

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With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) due to come into force next month, 84 percent of respondents to a new study say that digital accessibility is a priority for their company.

The EAA aims to make technology products and services easier to use for people with disabilities. The study, from quality and testing specialist Applause, shows 94 percent of organizations are preparing for the EAA by the June 28, 2025 deadline.

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Apple is expanding its accessibility efforts in a very big way. You see, the company just announced a collection of new accessibility features coming later this year, and they’re designed to improve the experience for handicapped users across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

One of the most interesting changes is the launch of Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store. These new labels will give users key details about an app’s accessibility features before downloading. That includes VoiceOver support, color contrast, captions, and more.

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Subtitles for shows and movies serve many purposes. As well as helping those with restricted hearing, they’re also handy for watching without the need for the volume to be too high, as well as addressing the problem of mumbled dialog.

Now Netflix is introducing what it describes as “a new way to experience subtitles”. To tie in with the launch of the latest season of YOU, viewers have the option of using subtitles that show only dialog and omits reference to other audio events. Here’s what you need to know about what this means for you.

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After years of internal use, Ubisoft has open-sourced Chroma -- a real-time colorblind simulation tool. This accessibility software is designed to help developers better serve the 300 million people around the world who live with color vision deficiencies.

Originally developed in 2021 by Ubisoft’s Quality Control team in India, Chroma allows developers to simulate how a game looks to people with various forms of colorblindness -- all without slowing down performance. It works on both single- and dual-screen setups, runs with customizable overlays, and responds to hotkeys for easy toggling during gameplay.

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When talking about AI in general -- including Copilot -- the focus tends to be on the impressive time-saving capabilities and futuristic features. What is often overlooked is the potential for artificial intelligence to improve accessibility.

But this is exactly what Microsoft is doing with the features it has for Copilot+ PCs. And now the company has made many of the Copilot+ experiences available to a wider range of processors, so systems with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V and Snapdragon X Series chips can feel the benefits. There are huge advances in accessibility to be explored.

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Microsoft has teamed up with Byowave to produce a highly customizable, modular controller designed for those who find traditional gamepad-style controllers difficult or impossible to use.

The announcement coincides with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which falls on the third Thursday of May each year. Comprising cube-like modules and interchangeable faceplates that allow for dozens of configurations, the Proteus Controller lets users create a completely personalized gaming experience.

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In 2025, a new European Accessibility Act comes into force with the aim of ensuring equal access to digital products and services across the EU.

This will apply to all businesses that wish to trade in Europe, but a new report from testing specialist Applause shows that while a third of global companies are on track to comply with the EAA, over third of European companies are trailing behind.

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Microsoft has acknowledged an issue with Windows 11 23H2 which causes the Narrator accessibility tool to fail.

The company warns that people using either physical media or ISO images to install Windows 11 2023 Update may find that Microsoft Narrator does not start. There is currently no fix for the problem.

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Microsoft recently unveiled a new default font for Microsoft 365 in the form of Aptos, and now the company has announced that Office is getting a visual refresh with a new default theme for Windows, macOS and Android users.

The theme is gradually rolling out, starting with Microsoft 365 insiders, and it is about more than just a new typeface. With a firm focus on accessibility, the new look means a change of color palette across all Office apps. There are plenty of other visual changes too, including increased line weights and new default styles in Word and Outlook.

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Social platform Threads may only be a couple of days old, but it has already amassed millions of users. While Meta might be celebrating the popularity of its new Twitter rival, the company is also facing criticism from various quarters.

Huge privacy concerns mean that Threads not available in the European Union -- not officially, at least. But there are also complaints that the app has been rushed and feels unfinished. Released in Disability Pride month, one of the biggest complaints leveled at Threads is that it lacks basic accessibility options and features.

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Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your keyboards, because Surfshark is making waves in the world of online security. The highly acclaimed VPN app has officially landed on the Microsoft Store for Windows, and the internet community is buzzing with excitement.

Why did the folks at Surfshark decide to make this move? Well, it's all about accessibility, my friends. Surfshark is on a mission to make their product available to everyone, and what better way to achieve that than by offering their app on the Microsoft Store? Windows users can now easily experience the full power and potential of Surfshark's VPN services right at their fingertips.

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Software developers and tech companies are striving to expand their customer base by increasing accessibility to their products and services. The Microsoft 365 suite is leading the way in designing accessible interfaces and tools for diverse users in increasingly digital learning and work environments.

Learn more about how Microsoft 365 is innovating accessibility features in their assigned categories -- vision, hearing, neurodiversity, learning, mobility and mental health -- that revolutionize computer usage for a more accepting age.

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Never before has society been so acutely aware of inclusivity and, even more specifically, the efforts we must take to eliminate exclusion and discrimination against people and groups. This is especially true in the workplace, and not just within the framework established once an employee is onboarded. To bolster the hiring and retention of your workforce, businesses must not engage in hiring practices that exclude people with disabilities -- 26 percent of the U.S. adult population --  from finding its listing, applying, qualifying for the role, and sustaining employment.

It has been conclusively proven that artificial intelligence algorithms used in corporate employment processes are highly biased against individuals with disabilities. To weed out anomalies in the hiring process, AI systems "necessarily produce and reflect a normative vision of the world," as the AI Now Institute at NYU puts it. Nevertheless, AI's understanding of the "normal" invariably excludes those with disabilities.

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According to the World Health Organization, one billion people -- approximately 15 percent of the world’s population -- live with some form of disability. There are more than 350 million people suffering from color blindness alone, and discretionary disposable income of people with disabilities is estimated to be half a trillion dollars in the U.S. The potential revenue that businesses can gain from better serving people with disabilities is immense.

But despite those staggering numbers, accessibility is often ignored in the design and development of digital products. When not completely ignored, it is commonly planned and budgeted for to be done at a later time, often due to a product management paradox.

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