Welcome to Disability: IN’s monthly round-up of digital accessibility news for February.
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.
Spotlight on Disability:IN Partners Using Technology to Enhance Accessibility of Products We Use Every Day
Speaker Attribution on Microsoft Teams:
Have you used the speaker attribution in Microsoft Teams live captions?
Turning on the new meeting experience, your captions will include speaker attribution — so you’ll see not only what’s being said, but who’s saying it:
Live Captions in Microsoft Teams (Support Article)
Esteé Lauder’s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA)
Estee Lauder has launched a Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA)―an app created for those with visual impairments. The app uses smart mirror technology fueled by ELC’s AR and AI capabilities to help consumers with their makeup and determine whether their lipstick, eyeshadow, or foundation has been correctly applied.
Learn More About Estee Lauder’s VMA
Procter & Gamble Explore Tactile Labeling on Shampoo & Conditioner Bottles
Procter and Gamble (P&G™) recognizes the importance of making sure that products and services can be used and enjoyed by everyone. Simple tasks can be a real challenge for those living with a visual impairment, like telling the difference between personal care products, such as bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Even for consumers with low vision or blindness, it can be difficult to identify products while in the shower.
P&G and Domino Share Case Study on Tactile Labeling
L’Oréal Offers Motorized Make-Up Applicator
L’Oréal recently released a motorized make-up applicator for people with limited mobility. The device, which will help people with, for example, Parkinson’s disease, uses smart motion tech developed by Google sister company Verily.
Learn More About L’Oréal’s Motorized Make-Up Applicator
Airbnb Launches New Accessibility Features
Airbnb’s new Adapted category helps people with disabilities find suitable accommodations. The category allows individuals with disabilities to find homes that suit their access needs including wheelchair access, verified step-free paths into and within the home, and more
Salesforce Enables Disability Inclusion with Trailhead
- Trail: Get Started with Web Accessibility
- Trail: Cultivate Equality at Work
- Module: Disability Inclusive Hiring
- Module: Inclusive Design
- Module: Neurodiversity and Disability Disclosure and Inclusion
Other Accessibility Highlights
Texthelp Shares 4 ways Employers Can Combat Stigmas Surrounding Neuordiversity
Recent research shows that 1 in 5 people are neurodivergent but only 12% of neurodivergent individuals and 5% of neurotypical individuals are aware of this. In an interview Martin McKay, CEO and Founder of Texthelp, discusses how most people work amongst neurodivergent people everyday without realizing it.
Veterans Find Relief from Nightmares With Nightware And Apple Watch
NightWare is a digital therapeutic system that works in conjunction with Apple Watch and iPhone to disrupt nightmares related to post-traumatic stress disorder. Available by prescription only, it’s also the first and only digital therapeutic developed specifically to treat nightmares that is cleared by the FDA. NightWare uses information from the Apple Watch heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope to detect a nightmare and then disrupt it through haptic feedback, generating gentle pulses on the wrist that gradually increase until the user is roused from the nightmare, but not from sleep:
Apple launches Nightware And Apple Watch to help Veterans with nightmares.
Easing Social Awkwardness for Visually Impaired Individuals
A study highlights the range of uncomfortable situations people with blindness or low vision encounter due to interpersonal communication challenges:
Article on Ways to Ease Social Awkwardness for Visually Impaired Individuals
13 Awesome Blind Piano Players (Best Blind Pianists) | Music Grotto
Despite the challenges and barriers to entry, there have been many virtuoso blind musicians in history, especially on the piano. This article shares 13 awesome blind pianists who overcame their obstacles to become some of the best in their field:
13 Awesome Blind Piano Players (Music Grotto)
BlindShell Classic 2 Announces the Launch of The Zoom App
Introducing Zoom for the BlindShell Classic 2. With the introduction of Zoom on the BlindShell Classic 2, it’s now easier than ever to participate in a virtual webinar, join a meeting, host a virtual event, and more. Simply download the Zoom app from the BlindShell app catalog and you’ll be on your way to participating in your first BlindShell Classic 2 virtual event.
BlindShell Classic 2 Announces the Launch of The Zoom App
Mental Health and Computing
This factsheet covers how assistive technology can help people with their mental health. Assistive Technology (AT) and apps (free and paid-for) can form part of a holistic approach to gaining support.
Mental Health and Computing (AbilityNet)
Lainey Feingold’s 2022 Legal Update
Lainey Feingold is an internationally recognized disability rights lawyer and is widely known for negotiating landmark accessibility agreements. Lainey joined 3Play Media on Dec. 8, 2022, to present her 2022 Legal Update on Digital Accessibility, in which she gave the full scoop on digital accessibility in the legal space over the last year.
Digital Accessibility Conferences and Events
7th Annual Envision Access Conference | March 3, 2023
SXSW Conference | March 10-19, 2023
38th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference | March 13-17, 2023
axe-con 2023 | March 15-16, 2023
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference- Australia | April 28, 2023
Web4All Conference | April 30-May 1, 2023
The Disability:IN digital accessibility team knows that the amount of accessibility resources can be overwhelming. Each month we share just a few of the many free resources from our Resource Library, our blog, our partners, or other sources that we think are great. Don’t forget to explore the Disability:IN Resource Library where you can filter resources by “accessibility” and find content created by Disability:IN and our partners.
If you are a Disability:IN partner and would like your accessibility resources featured in our monthly roundup, please let us know at [email protected].
