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By Jen Barling

APPLE PREVIEWS SOFTWARE UPDATES DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Apple recently announced next-generation technologies designed for people with mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive disabilities. Later this year, with software updates across all of Apple’s operating systems, people with limb differences will be able to navigate Apple Watch using AssistiveTouch; iPad will support third-party eye-tracking hardware for easier control; and for blind and low vision communities, Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader will get even smarter using on-device intelligence to explore objects within images. In support of neurodiversity, Apple is introducing new background sounds to help minimize distractions, and for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, Made for iPhone (MFi) will soon support new bi-directional hearing aids. Apple is also launching a new service called SignTime. This enables customers to communicate with AppleCare and Retail Customer Care by using sign language. Customers visiting Apple Store locations can also use SignTime to remotely access a sign language interpreter without booking ahead of time. SignTime will initially launch in the US, UK, and France, with plans to expand to additional countries in the future.

U.S. ACCESS BOARD CELEBRATES GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS DAY

In May, the U.S. Access Board celebrated the tenth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day by promoting discussion and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. The Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines including access to information and communication technology (ICT). The Board also issues guidelines and standards for the built environment, outdoor sites, transportation, and medical diagnostic equipment. The Board has recently held events focused on accessibility and new technologies such as inclusive design of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and self-service transaction machines (SSTMs) where presenters discussed usability issues, accessibility barriers, and industry research to improve access to SSTMs. The Board conducts free monthly webinars through its partnership with the ADA National Network. Webinars cover accessibility in the built environment as well as accessibility of information and communication technology. Upcoming webinars are posted on the Board’s Webinars & Training webpage.

THE VALUABLE 500

In May 2021 the Global business collective, The Valuable 500, announced it had reached its goal of 500 international organisations committing to put disability inclusion on their board agenda, making it the world’s biggest CEO collective for disability inclusion.

Since The Valuable 500 was launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos in 2019, some of the most recognisable businesses from across the world have joined the campaign for inclusion, including Allianz, Apple, BBC, BP, The Coca-Cola Company, Daimler, Deloitte, EY, Google, Microsoft, Nestle, P&G, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Prada, Shell, Sky, Sony, Twitter, Unilever, Virgin Media, Verizon and Vodafone. The membership includes 36 of the FTSE 100 companies, 46 of the Fortune 500 and 28 of the Nikkei.

Research reveals that there are no executives or senior managers who have disclosed a disability in company reporting by the FTSE 100, while only 12% report on the total number of their employees who have disclosed a disability. The research reinforces that while disability inclusion is now on the business agenda, it still has a long way to go before true inclusion is achieved.

RIGHTSAPP

RightsApp is a free quick reference guide to international human rights law. It contains the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ten other major international human rights treaties and agreements, and the corresponding optional protocols.

Developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission and LexisNexis®, RightsApp is the world’s first mobile application that allows users to quickly and easily search international human rights conventions and declarations by topic and right.

In addition to containing the text of some of the world’s most important international human rights treaties and agreements, RightsApp also contains signatory information and relevant United Nations committees’ general comments.

RightsApp is a quick reference tool that supports individuals to know their rights and assists businesses, employers and community groups to check their obligations under international human rights law.