The Speech Accessibility Project, led by Mark Hasegawa-Johnson at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is making significant strides in improving speech recognition technology for individuals with speech differences, especially those with Parkinson’s disease. The project, supported by …

A Toronto theatre company called Pleiades Theatre is making big efforts to make their shows more accessible for Deaf audience members. They’re doing this by offering augmented reality (AR) glasses for every performance of their new production, Tyson’s Song, which runs for four weeks at Factory…

PBS Kids has enhanced the accessibility of their programming by introducing American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to sixty episodes across six popular children’s series – Arthur, Alma’s Way, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie, Work It Out Wombats!, and Pinka…

Nintendo is often criticized for its lack of accessibility in gaming, particularly when it comes to remapping buttons and the mandatory use of multiple commands across its games. Unlike its competitors Sony and Microsoft, which offer specialized accessibility controllers, Nintendo has lagged behind …

I am excited to celebrate the conclusion of National Library Week with a special crossword puzzle designed for our assistive technology community! This puzzle highlights the vital role libraries play in promoting accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has the tools and resources they …

Mattel is introducing a new version of Scrabble called Scrabble Together, aimed at making the game more collaborative and accessible, especially for those who might find traditional word games daunting. The new version features a double-sided board, with the original game on one side and the new ver…

In anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8th, a concerted effort is underway to ensure that individuals who are blind or visually impaired can experience this astronomical phenomenon in a meaningful way. Innovative technologies, such as sound and touch devices, have been developed to tran…

The T1 Fingerspelling Hand, a groundbreaking assistive technology developed by Tatum Robotics, represents a significant advancement for the DeafBlind community. Designed to mimic human dexterity, this humanoid device features 18 Degrees of Freedom, providing a natural feel and facilitating communica…

Bioengineers at UCLA have developed a thin, flexible device that can aid people with voice disorders in regaining their ability to speak. The device adheres to the neck and translates the muscle movements of the larynx into audible speech using machine learning. This self-powered technology could se…

At California Baptist University, a unique camp is empowering deaf students by teaching them coding through the creation of video games. The program, spearheaded by the dean of the Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering, leverages American Sign Language interpreters, including some who are st…