Accessibility is everywhere! Tech leaders like Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon have made significant strides in making their products more accessible, especially for people with disabilities.

A demonstration of a company’s focus on accessibility is to employ people to focus on it. Microsoft has an accessibility director, Apple has a global accessibility policy director, and Google has an accessibility director. Some technologies that were once considered “assistive” and thought of as technologies that support a smaller population, are now mainstream.

Accessible tools and features help people with permanent, temporary, situational or age-related disabilities continue to use their products. Brian Norton, ATP, CEAS, Director of Technology Services for the INDATA / Easterseals Crossroads Project, joined us today to share how some of the latest big tech accessibility features work.

Android accessibility features

• To look for – Use your camera to help you identify what is nearby. Just point it at an object to find out what it is.
• Live transcription – Get real-time captions while you chat. So when someone is speaking, you can stay in the moment.

IOS accessibility features

• Voice controller – Improve your reading or writing with audio using Speech Controller.
• Voice command – Navigate and use your device with just your voice. Open apps, navigate between screens, enter messages, and even edit text just by speaking aloud.

Amazon accessibility features

• Tap Alexa – Interact with Alexa using touch instead of voice on supported Echo Show devices.

Windows accessibility features

• Microsoft magnifier – Enlarges part or all of your screen so you can see words and pictures better

Office 365 accessibility features

• Immersive reader – Read more efficiently with learning tools that read text aloud, break words into syllables, and identify parts of speech. Maintain attention with a focus mode and adjustable spacing between lines, letters and words. Available for OneNote, Word, and Outlook on various devices.

Easterseals Crossroads has been promoting independence for people with disabilities for over 85 years.

The INDATA project has an equipment loan library with over 2,500 items so you can try something for free before you buy it.

For more information on the INDATA project at Easterseals Crossroads, visit easterseastech.com or call 888-466-1314.