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Good news of the month on #accessibility: - Electronic Arts has filed several patents for barrier-free gaming. These patents can be used by other providers free of charge. - A guide explains the rights you have as a disabled EU citizen. - Google brings emotion to subtitles: They should not only show what was said, but also how it was said. - The Business Disability Forum offers eligible people free use of realistic images on the subject of disability. - The US city of Baltimore is investing $44 million to make sidewalks more accessible. Find more news on digital accessibility in the newsletter https://lnkd.in/eW4Y9MKU

Have You Heard of the NAD or NFB? You Will Soon. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) are influential advocates for accessibility, with significant political and corporate connections. Their efforts are compelling businesses to comply with federal accessibility regulations, and non-compliance has proven costly: • Target: Paid $6 million to settle a class-action lawsuit for website inaccessibility. • Netflix: Settled for $755,000 over lack of closed captioning. • Harvard University: Incurred $1.575 million in attorney fees in a settlement regarding online content accessibility. Even small Shopify store owners are facing similar lawsuits. After these expensive settlements, companies still need to invest additional thousands to achieve compliance. In 2024, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the importance of mobilizing expertise from people with disabilities to develop and deploy new technologies, highlighting the NAD’s role in such initiatives. I’m offering FREE evaluations to help my colleagues avoid these risks, yet few have taken advantage. As an award winning thought leader in my community and an ethical technologist, I understand the critical importance of accessibility—not just legally, but morally. I’ve witnessed family and friends struggle to shop online due to inaccessible websites. Recently, I referred a colleague’s website to a family member, who then shared it with a friend. That friend, who has a disability, found the site unusable and is now considering legal action against my colleague. One referral could lead to a costly lawsuit. Imagine that. Don’t let this happen to you. Ignoring accessibility risks legal action and excludes millions of potential customers with disabilities, resulting in lost revenue. Compliance not only protects your business but also opens doors to untapped markets. Will your firm be an ethical talker or an ethical doer? Take action now. Compliance is not optional—it’s urgent and beneficial. #Accessibility #ADACompliance #Inclusion #WebAccessibility #DigitalAccessibility #EthicalTech #DiversityEquityInclusion #BusinessGrowth National Association of the Deaf National Federation of the Blind

If your website includes multimedia, you must provide captions. The Department of Justice (DOJ) specifies its use, and omitting them may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and other disability laws. But as is the case with many accessibility features, captions aren’t just for users with disabilities. Accurate captions help all users understand (and engage with) your content. Let's go over some common questions of their use, and general tips on how to caption your videos: https://lnkd.in/gUgR3TCT #accessibility #closedcaptions #captions #itcompany

#GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay is a reminder that tech should empower everyone regardless of ability. On Android, we're committed to building products that are accessible to all in collaboration with the disability community. While tremendous progress has been made there is still important work to be done. By utilizing the best of Google AI, I am so excited to see all that we can achieve in the accessibility space. Earlier this week at I/O, we announced that more detailed image descriptions are coming to Android’s screen reader, Talkback, later this year. To learn more about Talkback and other exciting accessibility announcements, check out the blog below. #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay #GAAD #Android #Accessibility #Google

Enhancing digital accessibility can transform the way we interact with the world online. From speech recognition tools like Siri to AI-driven features that summarize extensive texts, technology is making strides in inclusivity and universal access. But we can do more. By adopting standards that improve navigation for everyone, including those with disabilities, we contribute to a more inclusive digital landscape. Read more: #DigitalAccessibility #DisabilityImpairments  

For entities with fewer than 50K people, ADA compliance is REQUIRED by 2027. The Department of Justice has officially ruled that Title II of the ADA applies to digital accessibility. This means websites and mobile apps used by state and local governments must be accessible to people with disabilities. By April 2026, these entities will need to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards to ensure equal access. This update impacts not just large entities but also smaller government bodies like public schools, libraries, and parks & rec departments. This ruling clarifies that websites, SaaS platforms, mobile apps, kiosks, and other digital content all fall under these accessibility requirements, ensuring people with disabilities have equal access to essential services. While this is a huge step forward, it’s important for organizations to act now to avoid falling behind on compliance deadlines. At Ablr 360, we’re here to help you meet these new standards. With our blend of technology and human insight, we ensure your digital content is 100% compliant. Check out this article from ada.gov to learn more about these new requirements:  https://lnkd.in/efuPJwfq #DigitalAccessibility #ADACompliance #WebAccessibility #InclusiveTechnology

Google's Latest Accessibility Updates: Empowering Everyone Google unveils exciting new accessibility features across its products. These updates, designed with and for people with disabilities, promise to enhance digital experiences and foster inclusivity. Key Updates Include: 1. Lookout for Android: New AI-driven features help those with low vision find specific objects and receive descriptive image captions. 2. Look to Speak: Introduces a text-free mode, allowing users to communicate with customizable emojis and symbols. 3. Project Gameface: Now available for Android, enabling hands-free cursor control for greater accessibility in various applications. 4. Google Maps Enhancements: Expanded voice guidance, detailed accessibility information for over 50 million places, and new features for hearing assistance via Auracast. 5. Project Relate & Sound Notifications: Improved customization and redesigns to better serve users with non-standard speech and auditory needs. Explore how these updates are paving the way for a more inclusive digital world: https://lnkd.in/e5C8XwsA #AI #Inclusion #TechForGood

Voiceitt's new Chrome extension empowers individuals with speech disabilities to dictate directly into websites, enhancing accessibility and independence. Read the Latest full News - https://lnkd.in/dpvSFQTm #MarTech #MarTechedge #Voiceitt #SpeechRecognition #Accessibility #VoiceAI #InclusiveTech #SpeechDisabilities #ChromeExtension #TechForGood #DigitalInclusion #Empowerment #VoiceToText

Easily provably error prone AI-driven solutions show the need still in 2024 for human involvement in making technology work successfully for the human intent or purpose of the technology. AI doesn’t get it!

Accessibility is not just a legal requirement—it's a moral obligation. 🚨 The ability to navigate and access information and commerce on the internet should not be a privilege reserved only for the fully able-bodied and cognitively capable. It’s disheartening to think that anyone could believe otherwise. Accessibility goes beyond meeting the bare minimum of legal requirements like the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). It’s about creating an inclusive world where everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can participate fully and freely. If your motivation for accessibility is solely to avoid legal consequences, it might be time to reflect on your priorities. Accessibility should be driven by empathy and a genuine commitment to providing a great user experience for all. Let’s shift the focus from just ticking boxes for compliance to truly understanding and meeting the needs of all users. It’s not only the right thing to do—it's good for business too. 🌍💻 #Accessibility #DigitalInclusion #UserExperience #ADA #DigitalTransformation #EthicalBusiness