How accessible tech helps people living with disabilities

Apple “Designed for Everyone” campaign marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people in the world are living with some sort of disability. That’s one in seven of us. To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 18, Apple has launched its “Designed for Everyone” campaign with short video profiles of seven people who are using its accessible tech in their everyday lives.

By Jeff Beer, Fast Company May 17, 2017

The campaign also includes an update of Apple’s Accessibility apps collection in areas of vision, hearing, speech, learning and literacy, physical motor skills, and Accessible Home With Siri, as well as hosting accessibility sessions in its retail stores to introduce people to these built-in accessibility features.

Designed for Carlos V. — Apple. Carlos is the lead singer, drummer and PR manager for his metal band Distartica. Using VoiceOver with Screen Curtain on iPhone, he can hail a ride, take a photo, and get the word out about his band’s album release while keeping his screen entirely black. Copyright © Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple Video Archive. YouTube Martch 4, 2022

Ian MacKay is a cyclist who also happens to be paralyzed form the neck down, and who is set to travel 3,000 miles on the Olympic Discovery Trail by the end of this year.

Designed for Ian M — Apple. Ian is an outdoor and birding enthusiast. With Siri on iPhone, he can play a bird call or chat with a friend via FaceTime, and with Switch Control he is able to capture the perfect waterfall photo. Published on YouTube May 5, 2018. Check out iBird on the App Store. Youtube May 5, 2018

Meera Phillips is a 15-year old soccer player unable to fully use her natural voice as a result of Schizencephaly, which impacts motor control and speech.

Designed for Meera P. — Apple. Meera is a teenager who loves soccer and jokes. She uses TouchChat on iPad to talk with her friends and family, and deliver the occasional one-liner. Apple. appledude101. Youtube Aug 18, 2017

Andrea Dalzell is a nursing student and former Ms Wheelchair New York, who lives with spina bifida.

Designed for Andrea D. — Apple (with Audio Descriptions). Andrea is a nursing student and advocate for the disabled community. She uses Apple Watch to record wheelchair-specific workouts and share her victories with friends. Apple. Published on YouTube May 16, 2017. Learn more about Accessibility on Apple Watch. Youtube May 17, 2017

Todd Stabelfeldt is quadriplegic, but also a software engineer and successful entrepreneur.

Designed for Todd S. — Apple (with audio descriptions). Todd is the CEO of a technology consulting company and a prominent member of the quadriplegic community. With Siri, Switch Control, and the Home app, he can open his front door, adjust the lights in his house, and queue up a party playlist. Apple. Youtube May 16, 2017

Shane Rakowski is a middle school band director, who lives with hearing loss.

Designed for Shane R. — Apple.Shane is a middle school band and choir director who uses Made for iPhone hearing aids in her classroom so she can hear every note. Apple. Published on YouTube May 16, 2017. Learn more about Made for iPhone hearing aids. Check out Essential Elements on the App Store. Youtube May 27, 2017

Apple – Accessibility – Sady. View this film without Audio Descriptions. We believe that technology should be accessible to everyone — including Sady Paulson, who uses Switch Control on a Mac to share her thoughts on doing what you love. Learn more about our products and built-in accessibility features. Youtube Oct 29, 2016

Source Fast Company

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