This Month’s Roundup
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Welcome to Disability: IN’s monthly round up of digital accessibility news for April.
At Disability:IN we know that digital accessibility impacts all aspects of disability inclusion. If you have questions about our digital accessibility program, please contact Jeff Wissel, our Chief Accessibility Officer.
Disability:IN Happenings
Register for the 2025 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo!
July 14-17, 2025 | The Gaylord Palms | Orlando, Florida
Don’t miss the global corporate disability inclusion event of the year! Registration for the 2025 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo is now open to Disability:IN corporate partners.
Register for Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Wednesday May 14 – Thursday May 15, 2025
Join us for an insightful webinar in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
Refer to the toggles for region-specific information and registration links. These webinar is open to the public and will be recorded and available on DisabilityIN.org for later viewing.
Spotlight on Disability:IN Partners using technology to enhance the accessibility of products we use every day.
Salesforce Inclusive and Accessible Events Trail
Creating accessible events isn’t just about compliance—it’s about fostering inclusivity and ensuring all attendees can fully participate. This unit explores why accessibility matters, covering legal and ethical considerations as well as the broader benefits for everyone involved. You’ll also gain practical insights into key steps for planning and executing events that are welcoming, engaging, and equitable for all.
Capgemini partners with Mobility Mojo to enhance accessibility and inclusion in their workplaces.
Capgemini has made a significant stride towards enhancing accessibility and inclusion by assessing six of its sites as part of a pilot initiative. This marks the first step in their journey to assess their global workplace portfolio. The assessment was conducted in collaboration with Mobility Mojo, an accessibility management platform that helps businesses evaluate and improve their accessibility standards.
3Play Media Launches Global Linguist Marketplace and AI-Enabled Language Solutions for Video, Positioning Businesses for European Accessibility Act Compliance
The industry leader in media accessibility solutions today announced the launch of its global linguist marketplace along with its cutting-edge, AI-Enabled accessibility and localization solutions for video-forward businesses across media & entertainment and enterprise.
Microsoft Ability Summit 2025: Accessibility in the AI Era
At the 15th annual Microsoft Ability Summit, over 20,000 virtual attendees from 164 countries gathered to explore the intersection of AI and accessibility. Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, expanding gaming options for players with limited mobility. Collaborations with partners like Tobii Dynavox and Special Olympics showcased AI’s potential to enhance assistive communication and training for individuals with disabilities. The summit underscored Microsoft’s commitment to integrating accessibility into technology development, aiming to empower people with disabilities worldwide.
Zoom’s AI goes agentic – here’s what it can do for you now
The company is introducing Zoom Tasks, which identifies action items in meeting summaries, chats, and emails and then completes tasks, such as scheduling a follow-up meeting or generating a document. Also launching in late March is a new voice recorder feature accessible on the Zoom Workplace mobile app that can transcribe, summarize, and capture in-person conversations so users can revisit the notes later.
Introducing Gemini 2.5: Google’s Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Google DeepMind introduces Gemini 2.5, its most capable AI model to date, featuring enhanced reasoning abilities, better multimodal understanding, and improved efficiency. The model excels in complex problem-solving and integrates new “chain-of-thought” enhancements, making AI-driven interactions more natural. Google highlights applications in research, education, and accessibility, emphasizing its commitment to responsible AI development.
Need Grooming Guidance? P&G Is Here to Help!
Did you know that P&G Grooming brands—Venus, Braun, and Gillette—are available on Be My Eyes Service Directory? Whether you need help choosing the right razor, tips for shaving, or guidance on using a grooming tool, their experts are just a call away. The service is available to all users in the United States and Canada. Find it on Be My Eyes in the Service Directory section under the Beauty and Grooming category.
Uber and Waymo have partnered to offer autonomous vehicle rides in Austin, Texas
Riders can now request a Waymo robotaxi through the Uber app within a 37-square-mile service area.
Other Accessibility Highlights for this Month
75% of firms risk fines as EU Accessibility Act deadline nears
With just over three months until the EU’s European Accessibility Act’s highly anticipated implementation date, new research by Storyblok reveals that only 25% of European businesses say they are fully prepared to comply with the Act’s provisions.
Accessibility Drives Business Success
Over 70 million people reported having a disability in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the unemployment rate among people with disabilities is nearly twice as high (7.5%) as for those without disabilities (3.8%). Organizations willing to make accommodations—which often cost little to nothing for the employer—to support employees with disabilities can leverage this underutilized workforce to drive business outcomes.
Tilt Beauty Exemplifies DEI in the Design Practice
If you’ve ever struggled to open a package—wrestling with stubborn plastic, squinting at tiny instructions, or fumbling with an awkward design—you’ve experienced the silent power of design. It’s something we rarely think about when it works well, but when it doesn’t? Frustration sets in fast. Now imagine that frustration multiplied for someone with limited dexterity, low vision, or other accessibility needs. Suddenly, what seems like a minor design flaw becomes a major barrier.
Understanding the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires that products and services made available within the European Union (EU) are accessible. Like most EU Directives, the EAA (DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/882) is hard to understand, and this has left many people unsure about what it means – and more importantly, what they need to do to make sure their products and services comply.
With this in mind, we’d like to share our understanding of the EAA as it applies to digital products and services.
Measuring the success of your accessible content efforts
Summary: Content, communications, and marketing professionals can measure accessibility success beyond technical compliance. Learn seven key measurement areas with practical metrics that demonstrate impact and build momentum for continued accessibility work.
DOJ Withdraws Eleven ADA Guidance Documents for Public Accommodations
On March 19, 2025, to comply with President Trump’s January 20, 2025 memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis”, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that, to “deliver price relief to consumers” it was withdrawing eleven guidance documents it had issued over the years to educate covered businesses on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and how to implement them in their operations. The DOJ said “[t]oday’s withdrawal of 11 pieces of unnecessary and outdated guidance will aid businesses in complying with the ADA by eliminating unnecessary review and focusing only on current ADA guidance.”
Accessibility in the Gaming Industry: Implications of the European Accessibility Act
The accessibility of services and products is gaining growing significance in the gaming industry, driven by various factors — ranging from the pursuit of broader market reach, better brand positioning, reputational considerations and, last but not least, a sincere commitment to fostering social inclusivity. In the context of approaching deadline (28 June 2025) for implementation of the Directive (EU) 2019/882 of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (EAA) it is worth analyzing how national transpositions of EAA will affect the gaming, particularly in terms of their practical impact on operational practices and business models.
The Lincoln Center is hosting a performance of Hamlet on Saturday, April 19th, taking place during the Lincoln Center Big Umbrella Festival, which focuses on performances centered around neurodivergent audiences.
The Peruvian theater company Teatro La Plaza reinvents Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet into a joyful and enigmatic production. Rather than telling one man’s story, director and writer Chela De Ferrari’s interpretation homes in on the importance of community. In this retelling of Shakespeare, the stories of people with Down syndrome take center stage, when historically they have been relegated to the background. Weaving together a version of the text with personal anecdotes from the cast, De Ferrari brings new meaning to the 400-year-old play and asks how can those with Down syndrome exist in a world that continually sets out to exclude them?
10 Essential Tips to Make Your Meetings Inclusive for Blind Participants
Having inclusively structured meetings helps to make collaboration easier and communication more effective while enhancing the commitment to diversity and access. Additionally, inclusively structured meetings increase effectiveness as everyone can participate, which fosters unity and support in the working environment.
CSUN Assistive Technology Conference notes for 2025
The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2025, held from March 10th to 14th at the Anaheim Marriott in California, brought together a diverse global community of professionals, researchers, and individuals passionate about accessibility and inclusive design. This year’s conference featured a wide array of presentations covering topics from digital accessibility law to AI equity and innovative assistive technologies. Attendees, including Intuit representatives, engaged in sessions, networking events, and discussions, sharing insights and experiences to advance the field of assistive technology.
How navigation should work for keyboard users
Navigation is a central concept in web design, the web being a network of interconnected pages and all that. Navigation is found in a few standard places; almost always in the header of each page, sometimes in the footer, and every now and then in amongst the main page content.
I’ve written about how button groups work for keyboard users, so in the interests of completion I thought it would be worth doing the same thing for navigation. Spoiler alert: it’s much, much simpler.
Note: although this is about keyboard users, like the article about button groups there’s example markup, and it would be remiss of me not to explain how it serves screen reader users too, so you’re getting a two-for-one!
Featured Presentation: Digital Accessibility Legal Update: US Lainey Feingold YouTube.com Law Office of Lainey Feingold | March 14, 2025
The Center on Disabilities at CSUN is proud to present Wednesday’s featured presentation: Digital Accessibility Legal Update: US Digital access is a civil right of disabled people. This session shares U.S. legal updates about access to websites, apps, kiosks, and more, and about laws, regulations, lawsuits, negotiations, and government policies.
Documentary: Change, Not Charity: The Americans With Disabilities Act: Premieres
This documentary explores the decades-long fight for equality and accessibility, leading to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Smart homes a boon for accessibility, but come with a technology warning
Imagine this, you come home from work and when you walk in the door the lights are already on, and the blinds have closed automatically.
Your dishwasher pings your phone to let you know the cleaning cycle has finished and a camera in the fridge has told you you’re low on milk before you left the office, so it’s already on the shopping list.
The internet of things, a term given to devices that connect to the internet, is even able to tell you your cat is safely at home and has just used the litter box.
Bad influence? Don’t overlook accessibility in creator content
Working with influencers to engage with consumers is now an established tactic for major brands. However, according to Jonathan Hassell, CEO of digital accessibility specialists Hassell Inclusion, brands could be missing out on big money from disabled consumers if they haven’t briefed influencers to make their content accessible for everyone.
LG Uunveils Accessible Smart Solutions for U.S. Market
According to LG Electronics ESG Strategy Head Justin Hong, LG’s role at CSUN 2025 exemplifies the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility for home appliance users and to realize its Better Life for All ESG vision. “Accessibility is at the heart of our innovation, driving us to push boundaries and exceed expectations,” he said.
Introducing the Accessible Games Initiative
Tens of millions of Americans have a disability, but without a common language to describe the accessibility features within different video games, making informed purchases can be challenging. That is why Nintendo of America is pleased to announce that we are a member of the new Accessible Games Initiative.
How to Add Alt Text to Make Your Social Media Pictures, Videos More Accessible
Accessibility might not be the first thing you think about when you post on IG or TikTok, but it can be a huge help for people with disabilities, and it only takes a few seconds to implement.
WebAIM Global Digital Accessibility Salary Survey Results
WebAIM’s December 2024 survey, conducted with the GAAD Foundation, reveals that full-time digital accessibility professionals earn an average salary of $109,542. Notably, 57.6% of respondents reported having a disability, with those individuals earning higher average salaries than their non-disabled counterparts. Additionally, employees at larger organizations and those working remotely or in hybrid settings reported higher salaries.
Four ways to prepare for the UK digital landline switchover
You may have heard that landlines are changing and that the UK’s telephone network is going digital. These changes will affect everyone who has a landline they’d like to keep using.
An industry-wide shift from analogue to digital will see BT and many other home phone operators in the UK provide services over a broadband connection, similar to work taking place in other countries around the world.
Time Shifter Clock V2 Easy time zone converter
Time Shifter Clock is a web app designed to simplify time zone conversions, especially during seasonal time changes. Users can select two cities, adjust the time slider, and easily share the converted time with others.
Digital Accessibility Conferences and Events
Global Disability Summit – Berlin, Germany | Date: April 2-3, 2025
Web Con- Online | Date: April 3-4, 2025
ACM SIGUCCS 2023 Annual Conference- Denver, CO | Date: April 6-9, 2025
GAconf Europe- Pullman St Pancras Hotel, London | Date: April 14-15 2025
40th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity – Honolulu, HI | Date: April 15-16, 2025
Symposium on Usability and Design- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (Done in collaboration with Louisiana Tech University) | Date: April 24-25, 2025
Web4All 2025- Sydney, Australia | Date: April 28-29, 2025
The Web Conference 2025- Sydney, Australia | Date: April 28-May 2, 2025
ACCESS 2025- Online | Date: April 29-30, 2025
devopsdays Atlanta- Atlanta, GA | Date: April 29-30, 2025
devopsdays Austin- Austin, TX | Date: May 1-2, 2025
Information Architecture Conference- Philadelphia PA | Date: May 1-3, 2025
UX Virtual Training- Online | Date: May 3-9, 2025
Beyond Tellerrand- Düsseldorf, Germany | Date: May 5-6, 2025
UDXDX USA 2025- Online and New York, NY| Date: May 12-14, 2025
John Slatin AccessU – Austin, TX| Date: May 12-15, 2025
International JavaScript Conference- Online and London, England, UK |Date: May 12-14, 2025
Smart Accessibility 2025 – Nice, France | Date: May 18-22, 2025
Accessibility Club Summit 2025- Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany | Date: May 24-25, 2025
Web Summit Vancouver- Vancouver, Canada | Date: May 27-30, 2025
Open-Source North- Saint Paul, MN | Date: May 29, 2025
UX London 2025- London, England, UK | Date: June 10-12, 2025
Disability:IN Conference | Date: July 14-17, 2025
