June Digital Accessibility Roundup

Accessibility (a11y) Roundup. Navy blue design of a desktop computer with various accessibility areas, such as Braille display, accessible coding, audio descriptions.

This Month’s Roundup
Powered by:

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

Digital accessibility impacts all aspects of disability inclusion. If you have questions about our digital accessibility program, please contact info@disabilityin.org.

Disability:IN Happenings

Abstract neon green and blue gradient globe with continental overlays.

Register for the 2025 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo!

July 14-17, 2025 | The Gaylord Palms | Orlando, Florida

Don’t miss the global corporate disability inclusion event of the year! Registration for the 2025 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo is now open to Disability:IN corporate partners.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Blue global icon with two facing arrows combining to form accessibility icon.

Check out the Disability:IN Global Accessibility Awareness Day Programming Recordings.

Over 2,020 individuals from 66 countries registered to be part of the APAC, EMEA, LATAM and US Canada Mexico GAAD webinars. The recordings are now available in case you missed the action live.

Spotlight on Disability:IN Partners using technology to enhance the accessibility of products we use every day.

Apple to launch new accessibility features for people with vision or hearing impairments

On Wednesday, before Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday 15 May, Apple announced new accessibility features to launch on iOS later this year, including live captions, personal voice replication, improved tools for reading, braille reader improvements and “nutrition labels” in the app store.

In these labels, developers will be required to list what accessibility features their app has, which may include voiceover, voice control or large text.

For this CVS Health developer, making tech more accessible is personal

Apple’s ‘Accessibility Nutrition Labels’ will put investments in inclusive design in the spotlight. But Cory Joseph says companies don’t need to be huge to embrace accessibility.

He isn’t just one of the users who will benefit from that information, though. As a principal accessibility solutions architect at CVS Health, Joseph is in the business of making sure software works for everybody. Given his employer’s scale—it’s the world’s second-largest healthcare company by revenue and reaches more than 185 million people a year—it’s a job with the potential for deep real-world impact.

Exclusive: Google Sees Smart Glasses As The ‘Next Frontier’ For AI. And It’s Not Working Alone

Google is re-entering the augmented reality (AR) market with its Android XR platform, partnering with Samsung and Xreal to develop smart glasses that integrate AI capabilities. The initiative aims to enhance user interactivity through real-time information display and assistance, emphasizing an ecosystem that augments existing devices rather than replacing them.

Microsoft Case Study — Be My Eyes For Business

Microsoft integrated Be My Eyes’ Service Connect and Service AI into its Disability Answer Desk, enabling blind and low-vision customers to resolve technical issues more efficiently through real-time video and AI support, resulting in a 47% reduction in handle time and a 5% increase in customer satisfaction.

Amazon’s New Generative AI-Powered Audio Feature Synthesizes Product Summaries And Reviews To Make Shopping Easier

Amazon has introduced a generative AI-powered audio feature that synthesizes product summaries and reviews, allowing customers to hear key product highlights while shopping. This feature aims to simplify product research by providing insights through short audio summaries available on select product pages.

Whirlpool Brand Launches Spin&Load Dishwasher Rack, the Most Inclusive Lower-Level Dishwasher Rack Design on the Market

Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) has launched the Spin&Load Rack, an innovative 360° spinning lower-level dishwasher rack designed to enhance kitchen accessibility. Created in collaboration with the United Spinal Association, this $149.99 accessory fits all 24″ Whirlpool Corporation dishwashers manufactured after 2018, including Amana, JennAir, KitchenAid, and Maytag brands.

Meta’s smart glasses will soon provide detailed information regarding visual stimuli

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are getting an upgrade to better help the blind and low vision community. The AI assistant will now provide “detailed responses” regarding what’s in front of users. Meta says it’ll kick in “when people ask about their environment.” To get started, users just have to opt-in via the Device Settings section in the Meta AI app.

Aira Partners with Google: Project Astra: Check out FAQ + Join Trusted Testers Waitlist

Meet Project Astra: A research prototype exploring breakthrough capabilities for Google products — on the way to building a Universal AI Assistant. Google and Aira have partnered to develop and refine Project Astra for blind and low-vision users. Now, Google and Aira have integrated Project Astra into the Aira Explorer app to create Aira AI Visual Interpreter powered by Project Astra (Aira AI for short).

Other Accessibility Highlights for this Month

Use Apple Watch Backtrack to Retrace Your Steps

On Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 6 and later models running watchOS 9 and newer, you can use the Compass app’s Backtrack feature to track your route and then help you retrace your steps in case you get lost.

The New ADP (Audio Description Project) Website Is Live

After more than two decades, the Audio Description Project has launched a redesigned website featuring streamlined navigation and enhanced tools to access over 12,000 audio described film and TV titles. New filter options, an improved TV listings page, and easier access to AD professionals and training highlight the update.

3 Tools to Help Fix the Web’s Most Common WCAG 2.2 Failures

WebAIM recently released The WebAIM Million, the 2025 report on the accessibility of the top 1,000,000 home pages. While some web pages are becoming more accessible, others with many issues are falling further behind.

The assessment found that 96% of all errors detected fall into six categories; the most common Web Content Accessibility Guide (WCAG) 2 failures have been the same for the last five years. Addressing just these few types of issues would significantly improve accessibility across the web.

Enable Accessible Haircare Wins Bronze at 2025 NACD Packaging Awards

The award, presented by the National Association of Container Distributors, celebrates excellence and innovation in packaging design across North America.

Founded by Laura LeMond, Enable was created out of a personal need—and a broader mission: to make self-care more accessible for individuals with arthritis, chronic pain, and limited hand strength.

How accessible are Minnesota’s professional sports stadiums?

When Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) last month awarded U.S. Bank Stadium its 2025 Barrier-Free America Award, it was the first time that an NFL stadium had received the honor.

But how do the other pro sports stadiums and arenas in the Twin Cities rate when it comes to ease of access for people with disabilities? Pretty good, it turns out.

The musician, who was born legally blind, is set to release her memoir I Identify as Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity and Power in early 2026, and PEOPLE exclusively can reveal the cover. The book will discuss disability as a cultural movement through a deep dive into pop culture and history. “Lachi challenges mainstream views on disability with humor, heart and high fashion. She reveals how the adaptability of visionaries with disabilities throughout the years have always driven progress,” the synopsis teases. In an exclusive statement obtained by PEOPLE, the recording artist talks about her unique perspective on having a disability…

Zero-cost steps to become more accessible

As National AccessAbility Week unfolds across Canada, employers are being urged to think differently about accessibility—not as a legal hurdle or costly upgrade, but as a strategic business opportunity. Mark DeMontis, chief accessibility officer at The Substance Group and a leading voice in accessibility strategy, says that when it comes to inclusion, starting small can still make a big impact.

The European Accessibility Act Is Here: Are Your Digital Experiences Compliant?

EAA compliance is now mandatory. As of June 28, 2025, public and private businesses must ensure accessible digital products or face penalties.
Accessibility benefits everyone. From situational to permanent disabilities, inclusive design improves usability for all users and expands your customer base.
The financial upside is huge. People with disabilities and their networks represent $13 trillion in global spending power, and most prefer accessible brands.
WCAG 2.1 AA is the recommended baseline. The EAA points to this standard without mandating specific technical specs, urging businesses to follow best practices.

As of June 28, 2025, businesses that haven’t complied with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) could face hefty fines, lawsuits and eventual product withdrawal from the EU market.

Accessibility Standards Canada releases new standard to help build adaptable homes that work for everyone Français

Canada is pleased to announce today the publication of the CAN/ASC-2.8:2025 – Accessible-Ready Housing standard. This new equity-based standard intends to help ensure homes are designed for adaptability, and ready to be accessible.

TikTok is using AI-generated alt text to describe photos

TikTok is introducing new accessibility features that make it easier for people with visual impairments to see text and use screen readers on the platform. After adding alt text support for still images in April, TikTok is now testing a feature that automatically adds an AI-generated alt text description to photographs when a creator hasn’t manually added it.

Creators will still have the option to add their own alt text descriptions to images as they’re uploaded or after publishing, providing a means to correct any information in the AI-generated versions.

Design system annotations, part 1: How accessibility gets left out of components

When it comes to design systems, every organization tends to be at a different place in their accessibility journey. Some have put a great deal of work into making their design system accessible while others have a long way to go before getting there. To help on this journey, many organizations rely on accessibility annotations to make sure there are no access barriers when a design is ready to be built.

Applause Survey Finds Gaps in Accessibility and QA Expertise

Applause, the world leader in digital quality and crowdsourced testing, released the results of its fifth annual State of Digital Quality in Accessibility survey, revealing growing awareness and adoption of inclusive design practices ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline in June, as well as interest in adopting AI’s accessibility-related capabilities. The survey of 1,500+ developers, engineers and QA, UX and legal professionals also found gaps in relevant expertise and QA processes that would help ensure optimal experiences for all users.

Web Accessibility Scanning Service Relaunch

As part of the Digital Accessibility Strategic Initiative, we are relaunching the ITS web Accessibility Scanning Service.

The Accessibility Scanning Service supports U-M units in evaluating and improving the accessibility of their websites, pages, and content. As part of the U-M Digital Accessibility Strategic Initiative, this service empowers all units to proactively identify and address accessibility barriers, ensuring an inclusive digital experience for all.

3Play Media Releases Annual Study, Finds ASR Technology Showing Signs of Plateau

“Our research continues to show that while ASR technology has made remarkable strides, we’re witnessing an increasing plateau in accuracy improvements for English pre-recorded content,” Josh Miller, co-CEO and co-Founder, 3Play Media, said.

7 Essential Zoom Tips to Run Better Meetings

Here How-To Geek offers practical advice for enhancing Zoom meetings, including using keyboard shortcuts, enabling HD video, customizing backgrounds, and optimizing audio settings to improve professionalism and engagement.

Missing a Human Touch: Why Automated Testing and AI Don’t “Solve” Digital Accessibility… Yet.

It’s 2025, and for many, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are an ordinary part of everyday life. From smart home routines to virtual assistants and chatbots, both automation and AI have proven to be quite versatile and handy in a multitude of ways. With that being said, it is also the case that automation and AI currently do not address or solve every problem on their own; this is especially true in the realm of digital accessibility. There’s this (false) concept that relying solely on automated testing tools or utilizing AI-powered accessibility overlays will guarantee that a website is accessible.