GAAD: Apple Software Updates Designed for People with Disabilities

    Global Accessibility Awareness Day, GAAD, is a day dedicated to focusing on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people with disabilities and impairments. It is celebrated annually and highlights that accessibility is a fundamental right.  

    In line with GAAD, Apple released a preview of several software updates specifically designed for people with disabilities such as SignTime which allows Apple customers and users to remotely access on-demand Sign Language interpreters or an update to the Apple Watch which will allow users to navigate Assistive Touch. Other updates include eye-tracking support for the iPad, exploring images with VoiceOver, new bi-directional hearing aids which enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to have hands-free phone and FaceTime conversations, the ability to import audiograms to customize the settings within Headphone Accommodations, new background sounds to help minimize distractions, sound actions for Switch Control, more customizable Display and Text Size settings for colorblindness or visual impairments and New Memoji customizations to widen their representation of individuals with varying needs.

To read more about these updates, click the link below to access the full article.

Apple Software Preview Article Link 

Source: Apple, GAAD  

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2018

Today marks the seventh Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). As stated on the GAAD website, "The purpose of the day is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities." 

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and to help create more inclusive school and classroom environments,  all educators should be encouraged to explore Microsoft's Educator Community training course, brought to you by Microsoft Innovative Educators who work in Special Education.

Within the training course are a plethora of technologies and resources available to help create more accessible and inclusive learning environments. With a few easy clicks, you can access quality content, efficiently and independently, without having to ask for it. Through the link below you will find 10 ways every educator can make classrooms and learning more accessible for all students with Office 365.

10 Tips to Make Your Classroom More Accessible

Additionally, the infographic below highlights ways students and teachers can provide options to reach those learning through a variety of modalities. Click on the image to download.