August Digital Accessibility Roundup

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Accessibility News from Disability:IN Partners

Microsoft Xbox Introduces Accessibility Tags for Games – Making Titles Easier to Find

Today Xbox is rolling out a major accessibility initiative designed to help players find games that suit their individual needs. Starting now, Xbox Store listings and in-game info panels will feature standardized tags indicating features like subtitle support, colorblind modes, UI scaling, and controller remapping. For gamers with vision, hearing, or mobility needs, these tags could be game‑changing.

L'Oreal From beauty to gaming: How smart tech is quietly transforming accessibility

Innovative make up

L’Oréal's HAPTA, an innovative lipstick applicator for people with limited hand or arm mobility, is an example.

With its launch in January 2023 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, L’Oréal put inclusive design at the centre of innovation.

Apple How iOS 26 Siri Updates Empower Blind iPhone Users with AI Independence

Apple’s iOS 26 introduces groundbreaking accessibility for blind iPhone users, empowering them with smarter Siri, refined VoiceOver, and advanced Braille integration.

June’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference clarified a variety of updates that will take place for iPhones and other Apple products, beginning within months on IOS 18, then continuing with Apple’s headline-grabbing shift to IOS 26 later this year, and expanding with future versions of IOS 26 throughout 2026.

Google Gemini App Gets Remade ‘Audio Overview’ Player

The Gemini app’s new Audio Overview feature is, at its core, an accessibility feature. Beyond Blind and low vision people, the overviews may very well be a boon to, say, people who are strong auditory learners in grasping information. Likewise, it’s plausible someone with limited range of motion may find audio content more accessible than manually scrolling the aforementioned PDF document. Whatever the reason(s), it’s obvious the existence of Generate Audio Overview is as much about accessibility as it is purported convenience.

Lyft Now Lets You Favorite and Block Drivers. Here's How It Works

Lyft has a new feature that can help take the awkwardness out of riding with strangers. On Thursday, the ride-sharing company announced that you'll be able to favorite or block a driver in the app after a ride.

What's New In Google Accessibility

Explore the latest advancements in Google Accessibility, including new features for Pixel, Android, Chrome, and Workspace. Key updates introduce enhancements like SignGemma, TalkBack, Expressive Captions, and more, all aimed at improving accessibility for users.

Porterville man asked to develop accessibility policy for Starbucks

The plan is for Taylor's checkout stand mounts to be placed in Porterville's three Starbucks as pilot locations. Taylor also said it's planned for a checkout stand mount to be placed at a Washington, D.C. Starbucks which is considered the company's model store when it comes to access for the disabled.

Microsoft Activision Blizzard

Black Ops 6 blog update: https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2024/10/call-of-duty-black-ops-6-accessibility-updates-features

Launched asymmetrical hearing compensation  (one of the first games to do so), an enhanced high contrast mode, arachnophobia settings, more customization for HUDs, pause and save in Zombies, and more ways for players to customize how their operators move in the game.

In Modern Warfare III (the game prior to this one!), nearly half of all players accessed the accessibility menu.

Modern Warfare III blog update: https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2023/12/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-new-accessibility-features-update

Launched an updated settings menu (including better joystick input tweaks), high contrast mode.

Some interesting stats:

• In Modern Warfare II, more than half of our players adjusted graphical settings like motion blur, field of view, and camera movement.
• Over 40% of players customized deadzone inputs in Modern Warfare II.

Level Access: The Rise of the Chief Accessibility Officer

For major enterprises, digital accessibility has become a foundational business priority, one that requires dedicated oversight. As companies increasingly recognize digital accessibility as a core compliance requirement and brand differentiator, the CAO is playing an essential part in risk management and corporate governance strategies.

The Coca-Cola Amphitheater welcomes additional accessibility resources

The Coca-Cola Amphitheater has a list of accessibility features available to try and make visits possible for everyone. Some of these include accessible parking, seating and restrooms, as well as the ability to request interpreters, real-time captioning and more. In early July though, the Coca-Cola Amphitheater partnered with a non-profit to bring on sensory accessibility options.

The Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor Receiver Recall: What You Need to Do to Stay Safe

Dexcom is one of the most popular continuous glucose monitor brands, and many people with diabetes use Dexcom devices to track their glucose levels in real time.

According to Dexcom's update, even without the audio output from the speaker, your receiver will still alert you through vibration and visual prompts. However, that's only so helpful when many people keep their receivers in their pockets or bags. People who use the mobile app for glucose values, alerts and alarms will still be able to do so without interruption.

Spotify's Audiobooks+ add-on is now available to some Premium subscribers

Spotify has introduced Audiobooks+, an add-on subscription for Premium members, providing an additional 15 hours of audiobook listening per month. The add-on is currently available in select countries and allows users on various plans to enhance their audiobook access.

Planning an accessible trip just got easier with TripAdvisor's new tool

TripAdvisor launched a new accessibility hub featuring destinations and experiences with reviews from travelers across the disability spectrum.

The hub includes accessible itineraries, peer recommendations, and travel planning guidance for various needs.

The initiative aims to better serve travelers with disabilities, a significant and often underserved market.

How we work to make Amazon accessible for everyone

As the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into effect, with the aim to improve the accessibility of products and services across the European Union, Amazon is well prepared.

Amazon's vision is to be Earth's most customer-centric company, which means making our devices and services accessible to everyone. We have pioneered accessibility features across our products and services for over a decade and our commitment to accessibility is deeply rooted in our customer-obsessed culture. For us, this is more than meeting requirements: it's about staying true to our mission of serving every customer.

Allyant Announces the Launch of its AI-Powered PDF Remediation Software

Allyant Announces the Launch of its AI-Powered PDF Remediation Software

Industry-leading CommonLook PDF accessibility software now includes AI auto-tagging, supporting users of every ability, accelerating PDF compliance.

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