Assistive Technology and Accessibility Live Weekly Discussion

Join us as we talk Assistive Technology and Accessibility news, issues, and Q&A
#AT #A11y #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #Disability #Inclusion
UPDATE!!! Illinois moves to safeguard autistic residents’ medical records amid federal registry proposal
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed an executive order to safeguard the medical records of autistic individuals in the state. I will cover this more in-depth on next week's news video.
Survey Reveals One-Third of Organizations Involve Disabled People in Digital Accessibility Efforts
From AT Today, which is based in the UK: A new global survey by Applause reveals that while 84% of organizations prioritize digital accessibility, only one-third actively involve disabled people in their efforts. The findings come ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline in June 2025, which has driven greater adoption of inclusive design practices.
Key issues persist, including videos without captions (32%), screen reader incompatibility (30%), and poor error alerts (27%). Although 80% of organizations now have accessibility roles or teams—a jump from 52% in 2022—68% lack the expertise or resources to continuously test accessibility. Nearly half lack clear processes to prevent inaccessible features from being released.
There's growing interest in AI and automation for accessibility: nearly half say AI already adds value, and 40% plan to use it further. However, many fail to include disabled people in AI testing, risking biased outcomes.
Most organizations are aligning with WCAG 2.2 standards, and while the EAA doesn’t apply directly to the UK, it affects UK businesses operating in the EU. The survey underscores that real progress requires not just compliance, but genuine user involvement and expert testing to ensure inclusive digital experiences.
Article: https://attoday.co.uk/only-one-third-of-organisations-directly-engage-with-disabled-people-in-digital-accessibility-efforts/
Survey: https://www.applause.com/state-of-digital-quality-2025/
2025 IAAP Certification Handbook: https://www.accessibilityassociation.org/sfsites/c/resource/CertHandbook2025?utm_source=IAAP+Certificants&utm_campaign=72129cff13-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_05_22_04_42&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-72129cff13-121557994

The Blind Life YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theblindlife
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Видео Assistive Technology and Accessibility Live Weekly Discussion канала A.T. Chick