If you watched Apple’s “Hello Again” event last week, you would have noticed that the keynote event opened with this video:

There was emphasis on accessibility right from the get go. Tim Cook announced the new Apple accessibility website, which puts emphasis on how people with disabilities use accessibility features built within Apple products. The website features several quick videos that showcase how each of their product is used by a person with disabilities in real life scenarios. Whether it’s a blind person taking photos with an iPhone (using VoiceOver), a pro athlete in a wheelchair using Apple Watch to track fitness (Workout App), a person with hearing impairment using iPhone hearing aids and iPhone to listen clearly in a noisy environment (Live Listen), the videos have quick yet clear messages – Apple’s accessibility features are easy to use and available in all devices. Besides these quick videos though, one video that really shows how Apple products can be made a lot more accessible using assistive technology is the one featuring Sady Paulson.

Sady is a 29 year old video editor who is non verbal, has Cerebral Palsy, and has little control over her body from the neck down. She uses two switches attached to the head support of her wheelchair to operate her devices. She pushes them with her head to not only navigate her computer and phone but to also operate advanced video editing software (she is seen using iMovie in the video). As a matter of fact, she is the one who edited the video she starred in. (above) Here, you can see her working on iMovie using two switches.

 

The website also has a menu on the top right as well as icons at the bottom that allow you to explore accessibility features by each product – Mac, iPad, iPhone, Watch, and TV. Within each product’s page, there are sub categories that show you features in five different sub categories – Featured, Vision, Hearing, Physical & Motor Skills, and Learning and Literacy. 

Apple’s accessibility products page can be accessed here.

Here are the other videos from Apple’s new accessibility website.

1. Workout app on Apple Watch featuring Alanna Flax-Clark. Alanna Flax-Clark is a competitive athlete who cross-trains for equestrian events with the Activity app.

 

2. Live Listen on iPhone featuring Win Whittaker. Win Whittaker is a climbing guide who uses Live Listen and a Made for iPhone hearing aid to have conversations in noisy environments, whether it’s a coffee shop or a mountain summit.

 

3. VoiceOver on iPhone featuring Mario Garcia. Mario Garcia is a photography enthusiast who uses VoiceOver to take and share pictures of his family.

 

Apple’s new accessibility website

Additional Readings: CNNhttp://www.apple.com/accessibility/ Money, Mashable

Sady Paulson’s website