Welcome to this month’s edition of Accessibility reads, where we cover the most important accessibility-related news happening across the globe!
In my short video below, I talk about some of the stories that really stood out to me, explore their significance, and explain why I recommend that you check them out.
Do you have a story you think we should read? Please share it on social and make sure to tag us! You can also leave a comment on this post.
Featured articles
The world celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 15, and many organizations made significant accessibility announcements. Here is my recap:
- Apple announced new and powerful accessibility features coming later this year, which are designed to make Apple products easier to use and more inclusive. New features include a seamless braille note taker, live caption for Apple Watch, Accessibility Nutrition Labels, and a helpful magnifier app.
- Google announced New AI and accessibility updates across Android and Chrome. These updates include an expanded integration of Gemini AI with TalkBack (Android’s screen reader) and a new version of Expressive Captions that doesn’t just transcribe speech but also indicates how something is said.
- Microsoft announced that they have added an Accessibility Assistant across Microsoft 365 apps. They also shared that Narrator (Windows’ screen reader) can now provide rich image descriptions on demand, and they’ve updated Bing Image Creator to produce more accurate and respectful images of people with disabilities.
- Meta announced that their Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are getting an upgrade that can describe what the wearer is seeing using Meta’s AI. Meta is also expanding its Call a Volunteer feature to all 18 countries where Meta’s AI is available. Finally, Live Captions in VR—which convert spoken conversations in virtual meetings or events into subtitles in real time on Quest headsets—is now available.
- GitHub announced its pledge to help improve the accessibility of open source software at scale, and called on partners across the private sector, public sector, academia, and NGOs to take the pledge. They also announced an Open Source Accessibility Summit, which will be a space where members of the disability, accessibility, and open source communities can come together to explore shared goals and define next steps.
- The GAAD Foundation announced an AI-powered accessibility checker called the AI Model Accessibility Checker (AIMAC). AIMAC is characterized as “an open-source, extensible evaluation framework” which tests AI models by sending prompts and analyzing the accessibility of the returned HTML code.
- And, of course, Deque announced the new axe MCP server, where you can ask your IDE to make your component accessible and get reliable fix suggestions automatically. Deque also announced axe Assistant, which is a generative AI chatbot built for digital accessibility where users get real-time insights into any digital accessibility question they may have.
There is also some significant regulatory-related news to be aware of:
- The Accessibility in Financial Services Report by compliance training provider Skillcast analyzed over 270 leading UK companies across nine financially regulated sub-sectors. The report considers key factors directly related to accessibility and digital inclusion, including page speed, best practices, and number of errors. Each sub-sector was assigned a weighted index score out of 80 to gauge the accessibility of its websites. The report showcases that the UK financial sector is falling short of digital inclusion and accessibility standards.
- An analysis from Irish law firm Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) shows that many organisations in Ireland remain underprepared for the EAA. The law firm says the lack of readiness suggests that organizations may be underestimating the scale of the required changes, or are encountering “internal roadblocks” to implementation.
- The UK’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR) says that claims over failures are no longer limited to the cost of a ticket in bid to toughen accessibility rules. The ORR is set to toughen up accessibility rules after a disabled passenger was awarded about 10 times as much by a court as by the rail ombudsman (£1,200 instead of £125), following the failure of pre-booked assistance to board a train.
- Oman Launches Digital Accessibility Guideline to Boost Inclusive e-Government Services for all citizens, supporting Vision 2040 and global best practices.
- India’s Supreme Court directed revisions to Know-Your-Customer (KYC) digital norms to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities, reinterpreting Article 21 of the Constitution to encompass the right to digital access. This change aligns KYC to India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
- H.R.3417 is back on the US Congressional docket. It aims to create clear, enforceable digital accessibility standards for websites and apps. Its reintroduction signals ongoing pressure to address digital inclusion at the federal level.
- The Accessibility Clock Is Ticking for State Governments: State accessibility officers convened at the NASCIO Midyear Conference with a call to action – State and local governments must prioritize upgrading their websites to meet impending federal accessibility deadlines.
- Only 10 percent of US faculty believe their college provides adequate tools to support students with disabilities, making it hard to meet the updated ADA Title II mandates on digital accessibility. The survey shows they need Digital Accessibility support. One way the University of North Dakota (UND) is preparing is by partnering with Deque University for digital accessibility training. The role-specific courses will be available this summer to all employees and will provide on-demand service to teach best practices for digital accessibility.
More stories
I’ve gathered some additional links to compelling stories that I think are well worth exploring:
Accessibility makes new cybersecurity requirements more robust
A package of standards is being developed to support a new EU regulation on cybersecurity. Experts from the Funka Foundation have been tasked with helping standardization organizations ensure that the standards take accessibility into account.
HC appoints panel on accessibility for seniors, differently abled at airports
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the setting up of an expert committee to examine complaints regarding inadequate facilities—including wheelchairs—for senior citizens and differently abled passengers at airports across India.
Prime Video launches a new accessibility feature that makes it easier to hear dialogue in your favorite movies and series
Amazon Prime’s Dialog Boost was heavily referenced at the IAAP-EU event in Brno recently. Dialogue Boost is an innovation that lets you self-select dialogue volume levels to suit your needs on any device with Prime Video.
Delhi’s High Court seeks response from Swiggy, Zepto, Meity on PwD accessibility plea
A petition has been filed by Mission Accessibility, an NGO advocating the rights of persons with disabilities, which says that the mobile applications in question are inaccessible for persons with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments.
Mobile apps are failing users with disabilities
Many apps are falling short of being accessible to disabled users, according to a recent report from software developer ArcTouch and the online platform Fable.
Out of My Mind’ Star Phoebe-Rae Taylor on DMing Co-Star Jennifer Aniston and How the Film’s Accessible Set Was a ‘Breath of Fresh Air’
Phoebe-Rae Taylor shared her experience filming the Disney+ movie “Out of My Mind,” a coming-of-age story about a preteen with cerebral palsy.
Disability Smart Awards 2025 winners announced: Celebrating innovation in disability inclusion
Organizations and individuals working to remove barriers and improve the lives of disabled people were honored at the Business Disability Forum’s Disability Smart Awards 2025 in London.
The EU-funded Tomato Project brings an accessible museum experience home through play
Scoreboards, cards, and tabletop activities—as well as virtual reality apps—bring the museum to those who cannot visit in person due to financial and health reasons.
7 ways generative AI is making workplaces more inclusive
AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are helping to break down barriers for today’s workforce.
You Read That Right: Netflix is Introducing a New Way to Experience Subtitles
Netflix is offering a new option: original language subtitles that show only the spoken dialogue.
How Samsung Embeds Accessibility and User-Centered Values Into Its Home Appliances
Guided by its vision of “AI for All,” Samsung Electronics continues to develop home appliances that are intuitive and convenient for a wide range of homes.
Woman with Invisible Disability Mocked by Passengers When Trying to Pre-Board Flight. Then She Got the Last Laugh
A Reddit user shared a recent flight experience where she was embarrassed in front of her fellow passengers. After presenting her ticket marked “pre-board,” the gate agent wrongly turned her away. Some first-class flyers jeered, thinking she was trying to cut in line.
UW researchers developing app to easily assess home for accessibility improvements
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are hoping to make it easier to find ways to make your home more accessible, all from the palm of your hand.
Steam users will soon be able to search for games based on accessibility features
Valve is asking developers to input accessibility information to ensure robust support for the new search functionality.
“Tennessee: For All”
Tennessee’s latest tourism initiative celebrates inclusivity, accessibility, and the range of diverse experiences. Songwriters wrote alt-text for images so that blind and low-vision individuals can get a clear understanding of what is being shown in imagery.
Access and the law: Entertainment without barriers is a right, not a favour
In 2024, India produced over 130,000 hours of General Entertainment Content (GEC), of which 95% was first produced for television, 3% for film, and 2% for OTT (FICCI-EY, 2025). However, a significant volume of all content ultimately becomes available on OTT.
Private equity snaps up disability services, challenging state regulators
Private equity firms have acquired more than 1,000 disability and elder care providers in recent years.
How the Google Maps mission changed for Sasha Blair-Goldensohn (video)
One day, when commuting to work through Central Park, a dead tree branch fell on Googler Sasha Blair-Goldensohn, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. At that point, his mission changed. Today, he works to make Google Maps accessible for people of all abilities.
Milan Design Week: Claudia Poh Champions Accessible Design With Werable’s First Bag
The Singapore designer, who founded the adaptive fashion label Werable, tells how and why she made the Wishbone Bag, unveiled at Milan Design Week.
Rosie O’Donnell’s Doc ‘Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children With Autism’ Debuts on Hulu
Rosie O’Donnell’s documentary Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children With Autism will launch on Hulu.
The Accessibility Gap: Why the biggest apps [in India] still exclude millions
Despite laws and advocacy, many digital platforms remain inaccessible to people in India with disabilities. Now, a growing coalition is demanding change.
‘Completely transformative’: Omaha Performing Arts pilots new technology for arts accessibility
A jacket is enhancing live music and performance experiences through real-time touch sensations. It’s called the SoundShirt, and Omaha Performing Arts is one of the first performance venues in the world to introduce it.
For this CVS Health developer, making tech more accessible is personal
Apple’s Accessibility Nutrition Labels will spotlight investments in inclusive design. But Cory Joseph says companies don’t need to be huge to embrace accessibility.
Delhi launches mission to make city more accessible for persons with disabilities
Delhi has rolled out a city-wide initiative to make public spaces and infrastructure more accessible for persons with disabilities. It aims to build on the early success of a pilot project in the sub-city and scale it across the national capital.
VRBO Announces Changes to Accessibility Features
Vrbo said this month that it is adding eight new accessibility attributes to its search. The company is also partnering with Becoming rentABLE, a separate platform that specializes in accessible rentals, to encourage hosts to make their properties more accessible.
NotebookLM’s Mobile App Makes Content Accessible, Interactive Anywhere
NotebookLM’s new mobile app transforms how users consume complex content by offering interactive audio overviews and enabling questions during playback.
Caption with Intention: A New Standard in Cinematic Accessibility
FCB Chicago, in close partnership with the Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) and core creative partner Rakish Entertainment, has introduced Caption with Intention—a groundbreaking new caption design system created to transform how Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences experience film and television.
What is beep baseball? Boston team of blind athletes plays America’s favorite pastime
The Boston Renegades plays beep baseball, an adaptive version designed specifically for blind and visually impaired athletes.
11-year-old boy who can imitate 50 birds wows at school talent show (video)
11-year-old Samuel Henderson, an autistic tween, has a knack for perfectly imitating the sounds of over 50 types of birds, but will his talents impress his classmates at the annual talent show? Steve Hartman goes “On the Road” to Choctaw, Oklahoma, for the story.
Inside Apple: Sonic Accessibility
In this episode, the Apple team breaks down the philosophy and craft behind their most impactful accessibility features.
This week’s recommended read
I have two recommendations this week for stories you absolutely must read:
First, the Disability Data Hub is an open data initiative of the World Bank Group to promote access to and use of disability-disaggregated development data. This site allows you to analyze disability-disaggregated data from 63 economies across different development topics and indicators.
Second, 3Play Media has released its 2025 State of ASR Report, testing and comparing the top speech-to-text technologies. This annual study finds that ASR Technology is showing signs of a plateau.
Bonus content!
Empathy through play: ‘Removing Barriers‘ is a thought-provoking board game created to help people understand the real-life challenges faced by disabled people. By using a game format, it invites players to step into the shoes of people facing barriers in transport, employment, housing, and leisure—making it a powerful educational tool for training and discussion. First introduced in 2017, the game has been updated with current tools promoting disability inclusion in 2025.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining me for Accessibility reads and all that you are doing to bring equality to the digital world. Please share these stories across your networks, and take a moment to let us know how we are doing with our monthly content curation.
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