Assistive Technology

iTagPDF: Making STEM Research Accessible to All

For millions of people who are blind or have low vision, the Portable Document Format (PDF) is often not readable. The PDF is a digital document widely used in healthcare, government, business and education. It was developed by Adobe in the early 1990s because there was no universal way to read digital documents across different … Read more

ABILITY Job Fair — Bringing Best Practices of Inclusion, Accessibility and Compliance to Virtual Job Fairs

Key Elements of ABILITY Job Fair (abilityjobfair.org) ABILITY Job Fair (a service of ABILITY Corps) is a pioneering, accessible virtual recruitment platform designed specifically by and for people with disabilities. It connects inclusive employers—including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and non-profits—with a highly qualified, diverse talent pool. The platform is powered by the proprietary abilityCONNECT.online … Read more

Tomer Aharoni — Co-Founder of Nagish

When Tomer Aharoni first arrived in New York from Israel, he didn’t expect to stay—let alone start a company that would reshape communication for people with hearing loss. But what began as a side project during his time at Columbia University has grown into Nagish is a tech company using artificial intelligence to provide real-time … Read more

Switchify — Making Android Phones More Accessible

As Owen McGirr navigates the digital world, he makes his own way and shares that way on the Google App Store. McGirr, founder of Switchify, brings his skill and experience to the app that makes Android phones more accessible for users with physical and limited movement disabilities. McGirr, a software developer with cerebral palsy, works … Read more

The Accessible Revolution: Vashkar Bhattacharjee and the Birth of an Inclusive Digital Bangladesh

Perhaps no other person has done more to build an inclusive digital Bangladesh than Vashkar Bhattacharjee. Working directly with the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program, initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office, as a national consultant for the Digital Bangladesh Initiative, Vashkar spearheaded a massive overhaul of the country’s sprawling digital infrastructure. “Our government runs the … Read more

Twitter’s new name is X. The bird has flown the coop, it’s new X logo.

Twitter has a new name and logo. X as seen below.

Dean Kamen — Segway and iBOT Inventor

Circa 2002 Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined—his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology’s virtues and by so doing to change the American culture. As … Read more

Gaming for All: Disability, Accessibility and Representation 

Much has changed over the last years regarding disability representation on- and off-screen and accessibility for people with disabilities in all areas of life. However, we still have a bit to go, especially in one particular sector: gaming. ABILITY Magazine’s Karina Sturm speaks with Anita Mortaloni, Director of Accessibility Xbox at Microsoft, about Microsoft’s efforts … Read more

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation — Empowering Youth with Disabilities

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) is seeking proposals focused on its vision to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment. Proposals should present effective, scalable strategies to prepare youth with disabilities (<26) for the workforce, which helps them successfully transition to inclusive, competitive employment. Preference is given to projects that … Read more

Online ABILITY Job Fair for Job Seekers with disABILITIES

Next online ABILITY Job Fair Dec 3rd, 2019 Recruiters from Google, Amercian Express, Paul Hastings, Aetna, United States Secret Service, Glacier Bancorp, Avnet, and more met hundreds of job seekers with disABILITIES.  The ABILITY Job Fair is an online accessible face to face video platform and partners with abilityJOBS.com and ABILITY Magazine. Accessibility Features: Screen … Read more

NeuroNode — EMG Based Communications and Control System

While interviewing Australian, entrepreneur Peter Shann Ford my memory kept repeating the late Senator Robert Kennedy’s quote, “Many men see things as they are and ask why, I see things as they aren’t and ask why not?” Resembling comedian Shecky Greene. Ford and Greene share another common trait. They are geniuses in their professions. … Read more

Visions for the Future of Mobility at CES

Five finalists in the three-year Mobility Unlimited Challenge have been unveiled at CES in Las Vegas. The Toyota Mobility Foundation launched the $4 million global challenge in 2017 in partnership with Nesta’s Challenge Prize Centre, with the aim of improving the lives of millions of people with lower-limb paralysis. The Challenge invited engineers, innovators, and … Read more

Assistive Technologies in a Changing World

ABILITY Corps panel discussion during the United Nations 11th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD Lesley Ann Gibbons: Which one is the shampoo? Advances in “anytime, anywhere” technology that holds significant promise for people with visual disabilities. My name is Lesley Ann Gibbons. I was raised in the United Kingdom, then I’ve lived the last … Read more

Toyota’s $4 Million Mobility Unlimited Challenge — Driving Innovation

Mallory Weggemann, NBC reporter for the Winter Paralympics in South Korea; announces crowdsourcing campaign to find ideas for $4 million Mobility Unlimited Challenge Global crowdsourcing campaign launched to identify solutions to the challenges faced by people with lower-limb paralysis, as part of the Mobility Unlimited Challenge Digital campaign will ask people with lower-limb paralysis … Read more

Facebook — Face Recognition Technology with Accessibility Features

Facebook has created a new way for its users who are blind or have low vision to know more about the photos they encounter. For instance, people using screen readers can identify who are in pictures on Facebook. Facebook also has new, optional tools to help people better manage their identity using face recognition. Powered … Read more

Assistive Technology in Canada — Neil Squire Society

Chad Leaman is director of development at Neil Squire Society, which uses technology, knowledge and passion to empower Canadians with disabilities. Their programs offer an opportunity for people with disabilities to develop computer and employment skills and to provide solutions to removing technological barriers as they prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce. Leaman … Read more

HUGH HERR — Bionic Innovation

Engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr knows what it’s like to lose a limb. He also knows how important it is to have reliable prosthetics that get you back in the game. A double amputee himself, Herr heads the Biomechatronics research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, as well as his … Read more

COMCAST — Live Olympic Games Audio Description

In addition to its vast array of video, Internet and phone services, Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which includes Spanish-and English-language broadcast networks, 17 cable networks, a motion picture company and far more. The communication giant’s Symphony marketing initiative promotes such programming as the Olympics and The Wiz Live! ABILITY’s Chet Cooper, … Read more

Comcast — Access into Your Imagination

Did you catch the Oscars? Better yet, did you catch Comcast’s commercial of Emily’s Oz? Little Emily describes what she envisions when experiencing the movie, The Wizard of Oz. For people who are blind or have visual difficulties, navigating the nubby buttons of a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) is an exercise in frustration, at … Read more

CSUN – Beta Access Check

For a few days in March, amidst the bright sun and the sea breeze, San Diego hosted the 30th International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference, organized by California State University, Northridge, commonly referred to as CSUN 2015. The yearly conference highlights innovations that help enable people around the world. I was honored to … Read more