December Digital Accessibility Roundup

This month's A11y Roundup is powered by HCA Healthcare

Welcome to Disability: IN’s monthly round up of digital accessibility news for December.

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 the accessibility of products we use every day.

ADP Research on Remote Work Resources

• November  5^th, 2025 - The democratization of long-distance work - ADP Research
• June 2024 - Remote work hits home - ADP Research / TaW_Q22024v2.pdf
• ‍March 7^th, 2024 - Long-distance work and domestic offshoring - ADP Research‍
• November 8^th, 2023 - The growing prevalence of cross-metropolitan work - ADP Research

Sony’s purpose is to fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology

After an extensive market evaluation, the Sony team chose a solution from Be My Eyes which included Service Connect and Service Directory, part of the Be My Eyesʼ Accessible Customer Service suite of products. The decision was based on several factors including:

• A customized solution for blind or low vision users with useful video features for agents
• Market leadership and footprint of the Be My Eyes user base
• Low implementation costs

As part of the solution, Sony is now listed within Service Directory, a directory listing of the service desks of many of the worldʼsleading brands. Sony customers who are blind simply locate the listing and connect directly to a dedicated Sony service team through the Be My Eyes app with their smart device camera, allowing the problem to be viewed in real-time by Sony agents.

ServiceNow wins a GAADY Award - Voice Input for Now Assist

Voice Input for Now Assist is a new voice interface developed by ServiceNow that lets people, including those with disabilities, interact hands-free with enterprise software. Unlike standard voice tools, it recognises ServiceNow-specific commands and runs multi-step tasks in one go.

What makes it stand out for accessibility is its co-creation with employees with disabilities from ServiceNow’s TruAbility Network. Their insights shaped core features such as adjustable speech speed, always-on listening, and page summaries, addressing needs of users with motor impairments, vision loss, and neurodivergent processing styles.

The impact is measurable: users with disabilities completed tasks up to 41% faster and rated usability 47% higher during testing. By embedding accessibility from day one, Voice Input for Now Assist delivers a faster and easier digital experience for all users.

It’s not just an assistive tool; it shows how enterprise software can build in accessibility from the start.

Using Your Phone without Reading the Screen

If you’re new to vision changes or to using your phone with vision loss, it can be hard to tell which “speaking” feature does what. This quick guide can help you tell them apart and choose the one that fits what you need.

Case study: why Microsoft is still one of the most exciting accessibility innovators

When we think of Microsoft, we may think “big legacy tech company”, but in accessibility, their journey is bold, experimental, and deeply human-centered, full of surprising moves that go beyond compliance.

W3CAccessibility Maturity Model Explained - Web

What Is the W3C Accessibility Maturity Model?

The W3C Accessibility Maturity Model (W3C AMM) is a framework to help organizations measure and improve how well they address digital accessibility. Digital accessibility is the usability of websites, software, and documents for everyone, including people with disabilities. In an organization, we’re talking about the ability to make all that good stuff accessible to everyone. The thing that is being matured is that ability. 

Evaluating Fable’s pay-per-project offering

I got what I asked for, and it was amazing: Direct and actionable feedback from a diverse range of disabled people about their experiences using my website.

This feedback took the form of seven recorded videos. Each video captured a person navigating my website using assistive technology, while giving verbal feedback as part of the process. Each participant also rated the experience along a series of metrics, which in turn was used to generate a quantifiable usability metric.

Platform that rates accessibility of public spaces for disabled goes global

YTA is an AI-powered, community-led platform that maps and rates the accessibility of public spaces. The platform has mapped over 1.96 lakh spaces across 15 states with the help of over 10,000 citizen volunteers under the Sugamya Yatra initiative. Data collected through YTA supports accessibility audits and informs of inclusive urban planning.

“Accessibility is essential to place people at the centre of development. It enables persons with disabilities to participate fully in education, work and community life. Without accessibility, the goals of poverty eradication, full employment and social integration remain incomplete,” said Jacob Kurien, Honorary Secretary and Trustee, APD, and a panelist presenting YTA at the UN Second World Summit.

European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an important EU Directive that introduces mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services in the EU. The Directive advocates for a universal design or ‘design for all’ approach to accessibility, which means ensuring access to products and services for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. The Directive came into effect on 28 June 2025.

Toyota engineers innovation for accessibility

Toyota Australia has taken another bold step in proving that engineering excellence can drive social change, with the car maker bringing together six pioneering startups at its annual Tech Immersion Day.

Held in collaboration with Remarkable, the disability tech accelerator powered by Cerebral Palsy Alliance, alongside companies from Australia, the United States and Canada, it explored life-changing solutions for people with disabilities.

Bengaluru airport becomes India's first to achieve ACI Level 3 accreditation

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) on Friday announced that it has become the first airport in India to be awarded Level 3in the Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation programme by Airports Council International, marking another milestone for the airport. This recognition reflects BIAL's steadfast commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and delivering an equitable travel experience for every passenger, it said.

"Accessibility and inclusion are integral to BIAL's long-term vision of creating a barrier free, dignified, and empathetic travel experience for all. Guided by its Customer First philosophy, BLR Airport has steadily advanced from Level 1 (December 2024) to Level 3 (November 2025), within less than a year, demonstrating leadership and accountability in driving inclusive transformation," BIAL said in a statement.

An Ideal Time for Retailers to Renew Commitment to Physical Accessibility

With consumers moving more of their daily activities online (like shopping), website accessibility lawsuits have been splashed across headlines.Today, these legal actions significantly outnumber physical accessibility lawsuits, with websites now regarded as “places of public accommodation” that are expected to be within reach for all.

Specifically, e-commerce sites have emerged as the most heavily litigated digital category. But for them, website accessibility is much more than a way to avoid litigation, “the right thing to do,” and a core tenet of corporate social responsibility. It’s also one of the key ways these sites maximize their revenue-generating potential — by expanding their addressable customer base to include an estimated one in four Americans living with a disability, as well as the 70% of consumers who prefer purchasing from companies that align with their moral values.

Global trends and evolving cultural expectations: What is the role of accessibility?

Accessibility is quickly becoming a core talent strategy, not just a compliance requirement. With one in six people living with a disability and younger workers expecting inclusive design by default, organisations that build accessibility into hiring, communication, learning and flexibility gain a clear edge. This piece explores how accessibility is reshaping HR and helping companies attract stronger, more diverse talent.

Hilton Boosting Accessibility For Travelers With Disabilities

Hilton guests with visual impairments can now get assistance navigating hotels through a partnership with the Be My Eyes app. (Hilton)

How a Cincinnati couple built their forever home with aging in place in mind

“We don’t know what our situation will be years from now,” Farrell said. “We both have some mobility issues, so we planned around that. We want tobe as independent as we can for as long as we can.”

Farrell and Wachs are among the majority of older Americans who want to age in place – staying in their homes and communities rather than moving into assisted living. According to AARP, 75% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their homes as they age, and 73% hope to stay in their communities. Yet many don’t prepare until a health crisis forces change.Experts say aging in place successfully requires early planning – from home design to social support – to maintain safety, independence and quality of life.

Svayam, CII, and UNESCO host first National Summit on Accessibility 2025 to drive inclusive growth and economic resilience

The inaugural National Summit on Accessibility 2025, jointly organised by Svayam, CII, and UNESCO, convened leaders from government, business, and civil society to shape India’s inclusive growth strategy. Held in New Delhi, the summit positioned accessibility as a USD1 trillion economic opportunity, launching national dialogues on inclusion across infrastructure,tourism, mobility, and digital innovation. A key highlight was the release of KPMG India’s white paper, Does Accessibility Make Economic Sense?, which presented an evidence-based framework for measuring the financial and social returns of inclusive infrastructure.