♿️ The Week’s News in Access Technology
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Accessible Templates Using Venngage | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | August 17, 2026
Showcasing practical design for inclusion, The Accessibility Guy walks viewers through Venngage’s Accessible Templates and details how to adapt sample content, audit structure, and verify PDF tags for true accessibility. This hands-on look highlights key steps in producing content that meets accessibility standards using free resources from the Venngage library.

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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week 📊️
A.) Feedback: Accessible Hymns, Cool Ways To Use Claude & Visually Appealing Blind Tech | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 11, 2026
Cutting through the hype around AI in assistive technology, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece examine how tools like Claude and smart agents are transforming daily life for blind and visually impaired users. Their conversation highlights real listener experiences with automating inaccessible PDFs, managing tasks, and the growing role of aesthetic design in devices like Braille displays and smart glasses.
B.) The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: Required Form Fields | Deque.com | August 6, 2026
Deque continues its series on accessible form design with a post on required form fields, covering how they should be built and labelled so every user can navigate fields, understand labels and avoid errors. The article also sets the practice against obligations under the European Accessibility Act, the ADA and WCAG.
C.) JAWS Power Tip: How To List Specific Form Fields on a Web Page | Freedom Scientific via TopTechTidbits.com | August 13, 2026
Form fields are interactive elements on web pages, such as buttons, edit fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and combo boxes. They are essential for tasks like filling out forms, searching, or submitting information. For screen reader users, quickly finding and navigating to these fields can save time and reduce frustration, especially on complex pages. You can list specific types of form fields to learn more about the layout and controls on the form, which can make it easier to understand and navigate.
D.) What Does a Digital Accessibility Specialist Do? | Vispero.com | August 6, 2026
Vispero sets out what a digital accessibility specialist actually does, describing a role that runs from early planning through development, procurement and long-term maintenance rather than only finding defects on a finished website. It covers the mix of technical expertise, standards knowledge, assistive technology experience and cross-functional collaboration the work calls for.
E.) Freedom on Four Wheels: What Driverless Cars Could Mean for Blind and Partially Sighted People | BlindAmbition.co.uk | July 15, 2026
Seema Flower, founder and managing director of Blind Ambition, writes about what self-driving vehicles could mean for blind and partially sighted people. She frames it around the ordinary freedom of getting into a car and going wherever you want, which she describes slipping out of reach when she was told she would lose her sight.
August 20, 2026 📅️
2.) JAWS Power Tip: How To Access Multiple Sheets in An Excel Workbook | Freedom Scientific via TopTechTidbits.com | August 20, 2026
A workbook in Microsoft Excel is a file that can contain multiple sheets, each used to organize related sets of information including statistics, calculations, or data tables. For example, in a single Excel workbook, you might have one sheet for sales data, another for expenses, and a third for summaries or charts.
August 19, 2026 📅️
3.) Podcast: Eyes on Success Episode 2633: Parenting with Babies Down, Bottles Up | August 19, 2026
The βBabies Down, Bottles Upβ team brings humor, honesty, and real talk to blind parenting, sharing stories about family life, advocacy, and community. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josselyn Williams, Terrin Landry, LaKisha Holmes, and Danny Romero about building a supportive space where visually impaired parents connect and learn from one another.
4.) NLS Seeks Beta Testers for the BARD Web Player | NLS | August 19, 2026
The National Library Service is recruiting up to 250 patrons to beta test a web player for BARD audio books, with variable playback speed, a sleep timer, section navigation and reading synchronization across BARD platforms. Applicants must email NLSPES@loc.gov with their name and the email address on their active BARD account, read at least five hours a week, and agree not to demonstrate the player publicly before release.
5.) Innovation for Access: AI and Its Use as Assistive Technology for People With Disabilities | AFB.org | August 19, 2026
This American Foundation for the Blind report analyzes AI as assistive technology using survey data from adults with and without disabilities, focusing on AI-generated visual descriptions, automated captions and augmentative and alternative communication. Its recommendations cover setting realistic expectations of model capability, not censoring descriptions without consent, expanding language coverage and improving data transparency and on-device processing.
6.) The Privacy Price of Accessibility: What Is Real, What Is Hype and What You Need to Know | Anthony Corona | August 19, 2026
This piece separates legitimate privacy concerns about accessibility apps from exaggerated claims, explaining what a camera, microphone or location permission actually exposes and correcting the notion that a screen reader hands other apps a transcript of the screen. It distinguishes Screen Curtain from screen sharing, contrasts the VoiceOver and TalkBack accessibility architectures, and closes with appendices walking through the privacy settings on iPhone and Android.
7.) AirPods With Cameras? And More Of Your Feedback | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 19, 2026
Sitting down with rumors swirling about Apple’s next move, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece weigh the implications of camera-equipped AirPods and the privacy debates they spark. The conversation weaves through listener feedback, unusual tech mishaps, and candid takes on whether Apple can keep pace in the accelerating AI wearables race.
August 18, 2026 📅️
8.) Hey, Meta, What Am I Holding? | Hadley | August 18, 2026
In this #TechTipTuesday reel by Hadley and the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hadley’s practical help specialist, Steve Kelley, demos how he uses Meta glasses to identify everyday items like spice containers with a simple voice command. Watch the video to see this helpful accessibility tool in action!
9.) AccsiCapture: An Accessible Screen Capture and Multi-Track Audio Studio for Windows | Accsify | August 18, 2026
AccsiCapture is a Windows utility for screen captures, 4K video recording and multi-track audio routing, controlled entirely from global hotkeys and a virtual panel with spoken feedback. Features include application-specific audio capture, auto-ducking, a UI Automation selection overlay with OCR, and virtual camera output.
10.) Blind Egyptian Entrepreneur’s AI App Helps Others See the World | ChannelNewsAsia.com | August 18, 2026
A Reuters profile of Mark Morad, a blind 20-year-old in Cairo who taught himself to code and built ScribeMe, an AI description app now used in 140 countries. The app runs on iPhone, Android and Meta smart glasses, answers real-time questions through the camera and supports 20 languages including Arabic.
11.) Bryce Belcher Announces iTunes Backup Extractor | Bryce Belcher | August 18, 2026
A new Windows application extracts the full contents of an iTunes or Finder iPhone backup folder, including app data, videos and Voice Memos, into a folder under Documents. The developer positions it as a screen-reader-friendly option for backup extraction rather than a backup tool itself.
12.) For NVDA Users: Smart Home Control Add-on Seeks Testers | GitHub.com | August 18, 2026
Smart Home Control puts smart plugs, lights, heating and air purifiers into a tree view inside NVDA, so devices can be switched without opening a manufacturer app. The first public beta supports Meross, Netatmo, VeSync/Levoit and Cozytouch/Atlantic, and the developer is asking for testers with other hardware and outside Germany.
13.) HomerView: Several Tools in One Browser, for JAWS and NVDA | GitHub.com | August 18, 2026
HomerView is a free, open-source companion that runs Microsoft Edge under JAWS or NVDA and adds accessibility testing with the axe and IBM engines, document and ebook conversion, a file downloader and article extraction. This release adds JAWS support through a new bridge between the JAWS Script Language and the Chrome DevTools Protocol.
14.) Blind Developer Creates Seamless Windows On Mac Experience | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 18, 2026
In this analytical breakdown, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece probe the future of accessible virtualization on Apple Silicon by hosting Allison Melloy, who unveils the AVM project for blind users seeking a flawless Windows experience on macOS. They dissect feature gaps in mainstream tools and spotlight how accessible design, keyboard mapping, and AI collaboration are reshaping software development for the blind community.
15.) Building An Accessibility Culture Webinar August 26, 2026 | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | August 18, 2026
Showcasing organizational tactics for inclusion, The Accessibility Guy leads a practical discussion on weaving accessibility responsibilities throughout teams. Attendees gain actionable strategies to embed accessibility into existing workflows and foster genuine participation across their organizations.
August 17, 2026 📅️
16.) Activating the Latest in Braille Display Technology | StriveAbility.uk | August 17, 2026
A hands-on review of the Help Tech Activator, a 40-cell braille display and notetaker with a flip-over QWERTY keyboard, Active Tactile Control auto-panning, and a SmartDock cradle that pairs it with an iPhone. The review covers the box contents, the built-in menu, the HTCom transfer software and UK pricing.
17.) JAWS JumpStart: A Deep Dive Into Managing Documents With JAWS | Vispero.com | August 17, 2026
Part of a four-week back-to-school series, this installment covers navigating documents and PDFs with the JAWS headings and links lists, the Find command and the table layer. It also explains applying styles while editing in Word, Quick Keys navigation, and using Picture Smart AI to describe images, charts and slide visuals.
18.) NVDA 2026.2beta11 Available for Testing | NVAccess.org | August 17, 2026
NV Access has released beta 11 of NVDA 2026.2, a version whose highlights include a new built-in Magnifier with zoom and color filtering, expanded touch gestures and touch browse mode navigation, add-on-supplied speech dictionaries and automatic braille scrolling. This beta adds translation updates and a security fix that clears the braille display on shutdown.
19.) Touch Mapper: Create Tactile Maps Easily for Any Address | TouchMapper.org | August 17, 2026
Touch Mapper generates custom tactile outdoor maps for any address to help with orientation and route planning. Maps can be printed at no charge on a 3D printer, ordered as a 3D print starting at 29 euros or dollars, or produced on an embosser or swell paper printer.
20.) Airline Website Accessibility: Online Check-in Barriers | UsableNet.com | August 17, 2026
The final post in a five-part series covers online check-in, where fields are sometimes marked read-only by mistake, format examples do not match what the field accepts, and lookup-type menus revert or misreport the selected option. Unlabeled icon buttons also hide helpful tips from screen reader users entirely.
21.) Meta Taps Disability Groups to Explore Uses for AI Glasses | DisabilityScoop.com | August 17, 2026
Meta is putting nearly $2 million into grants for 30 organizations across 18 states, a dozen of which focus on disability, to test how AI glasses can increase independence. Funded projects include documenting accessibility barriers in public spaces, hands-free job support and classroom access, with recipients including the American Council of the Blind and the Braille Institute of America.
22.) Feedback: Navigating Hospitals, Instagram Accessibility & Braille | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 17, 2026
Cutting through the noise around accessibility barriers, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece unpack listener experiences involving guide dog refusals at hospitals and frustrations with social apps built by Meta. Their conversation moves from hard-won tech tips and workarounds to a nuanced look at why braille literacy still matters, underscoring the evolving intersection of technology and independence for blind users.
23.) Accessible Templates Using Venngage | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | August 17, 2026
Showcasing practical design for inclusion, The Accessibility Guy walks viewers through Venngage’s Accessible Templates and details how to adapt sample content, audit structure, and verify PDF tags for true accessibility. This hands-on look highlights key steps in producing content that meets accessibility standards using free resources from the Venngage library.
August 16, 2026 📅️
24.) Build an Accessible Tic Tac Toe Game With AI and Codex CLI | CodingBlindTech.com | August 16, 2026
A step-by-step account of using Codex CLI and a React starter project to produce a two-player tic-tac-toe game with screen reader support, tested with NVDA on Windows 11. The write-up covers the project instructions file, the accessibility prompt, the ARIA and live-region work the agent produced, and what still needs broader testing.
25.) Microsoft 365 Copilot Training for Screen Reader Users | Microsoft.com | August 16, 2026
Microsoft and the National Federation of the Blind have produced a training series on using Microsoft 365 Copilot with screen readers and other assistive technology. The modules can be taken in order or individually, beginning with an introduction to Narrator and using Copilot in Word.
26.) Reflections on Ten Years of Four Decades of Magic Mushroom Memories | Mushroom FM | August 16, 2026
Jonathan Mosen marks a decade of Mushroom FM’s 1950s-to-1980s format with a history of blind-run internet radio, from SHOUTcast experiments on New Year’s Eve 1998 through founding ACB Radio in 1999. The piece argues that personality, curation and a clear identity have outlasted every technical change.
27.) Mainstream: Google Pixel 11 & Pixel Tag | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 16, 2026
Cutting through the hype around Google’s 2026 Pixel lineup, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece unpack how features like Gemini-powered AI and the debut Pixel Tag deepen the Android experience. The discussion weighs subtle hardware shifts, accessibility commitments, and longevity for buyers weighing Pixel 11, Pixel Fold, Tag trackers, and even holdover models, offering real-world angles on Android’s ecosystem evolution.
August 15, 2026 📅️
28.) A Comprehensive Guide to the Smart Typer Pro App | AccessibleAndroid.com | August 15, 2026
A detailed walkthrough of Smart Typer Pro, an Android note-taking and document app combining a text editor, voice typing with custom shortcuts, four AI writing modes, text-to-audio, a translator and built-in file management. The guide covers all eighteen feature areas plus the app’s settings and storage layout.
29.) New Braille Device Database From Seeing Hands | SeeingHands.org | August 15, 2026
BrailleDB catalogues the features and specifications of braille displays, notetakers and braille keyboards currently available for purchase, along with announced and discontinued models. Devices can be compared side by side and filtered by attributes such as cell count, physical size and onboard translation languages, with a glossary explaining each feature.
30.) QuickMail 0.8.4, Now With Support for POP Email Accounts | Kelly Ford | August 15, 2026
QuickMail 0.8.4 adds support for POP email accounts. Enabling POP is a two-step process: switch it on in settings and restart the program, then add accounts using the advanced settings.
31.) Weekend: CSUN 2027 – Launching Tomorrow’s Assistive Tech Innovations Today | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 15, 2026
Sitting down with Julia Santiago, Steven Scott sheds light on how the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference has become a key force for accessibility breakthroughs. Highlighting the 2027 Innovation Track, the discussion unpacks how startups and researchers will demo new assistive tech and vie for high-stakes recognition before products ever reach the public.
32.) CloverNote S: A Powerful All-in-One Video Magnifier For Low Vision From Irie-AT | The Blind Life | YouTube.com | August 15, 2026
Showcasing Irie-AT’s CloverNote S, Sam demonstrates the device’s external camera, versatile magnification options, and full-page OCR in action. The review scrutinizes how this 12.5-inch portable magnifier supports users with low vision, highlighting real-world functionality and accessible design choices.
August 14, 2026 📅️
33.) Apple’s Watch Ultra 3 Is Now $99 Cheaper on Amazon | CNET.com | August 14, 2026
CNET reports a $99 discount on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 with the Titanium Milanese loop, bringing it to $800 in natural and black finishes. The 49mm model offers up to 42 hours of battery life, dual-frequency GPS, emergency SOS via satellite and built-in cellular.
34.) Customer Accessibility Suite Spotlight: Service Stream | BeMyEyes.com | August 14, 2026
Service Stream lets a support agent add a live camera view to an ordinary phone call by texting the customer a browser link, so the agent can see the device, screen or label the caller is describing. Be My Eyes outlines the workflow, typical use cases such as reading serial numbers or router lights, and how it differs from Service Connect.
35.) For Owners of the Dot Pad: Tactile Screen NVDA Add-On | GitHub.com | August 14, 2026
This NVDA add-on mirrors a portion of the computer screen onto a Dot Pad graphical area, following the navigator object or the mouse pointer. It uses a local mean threshold so thin lines survive when the image is shrunk and changes remain visible when screen lighting varies.
36.) Update to Paylino, a Bill Scanning App for iOS | Robin Kipp | August 14, 2026
Paylino, an accessible bill scanning and splitting app for iOS, has received an update built around a new AI model that speeds up scanning and improves recognition of currencies and discounts. Items now appear in receipt order and the loading screen is easier to read in Dark Mode.
37.) NVDA Add-On: Ham Calls 0.2.1 | Ham Calls | August 14, 2026
Version 0.2.1 of the Ham Calls NVDA add-on tightens its rules so that only genuine amateur radio callsigns are transformed, leaving filenames, URLs and email addresses alone. The default gesture changes to NVDA+Alt+H and the add-on is now marked stable.
38.) User Manual and Quick Start Guide for the Focus 6 Braille Display Is Now Online | FreedomScientific.com | August 14, 2026
Freedom Scientific has posted the documentation for the Focus 6 braille display. User manuals are available in several languages and the quick start guide is available in English.
39.) ghostWriter Markdown: A New Accessible Markdown Editor for iOS | Marco Salsiccia | August 14, 2026
ghostWriter Markdown is a native iPhone and iPad app for writing Markdown, rendering and sharing HTML and syncing to iCloud, built after a request on the r/blind subreddit. An Outline feature turns document headings into a navigable table of contents, and VoiceOver and keyboard focus positions are preserved when moving between files.
40.) Employment Opportunity From Pope Tech: Senior Software Engineer, Fully Remote | Pope.tech | August 14, 2026
Pope Tech is hiring a senior full-stack engineer to work on its web accessibility platform, which analyzes web pages, PDFs and Canvas content at a scale of hundreds of millions of documents a year. The role is fully remote with a US preference, pays $160,000 and up depending on experience, and runs on a four-day work week.
41.) Explore Forensic Science With STEM2U | National Federation of the Blind | August 14, 2026
This year’s National Federation of the Blind STEM2U program, Science Sleuths, invites blind and low-vision students to examine evidence, identify fingerprints and DNA patterns and solve a mystery using nonvisual science techniques. Families without a program nearby can register for an in-home e-learning option that supplies the complete curriculum electronically, and the registration link has been corrected.
42.) Gary O’Donoghue Q&A: Excelling in Broadcast Journalism | SoundWithoutSight.org | August 14, 2026
BBC News Chief North America Correspondent Gary O’Donoghue discusses his route into journalism, the braille scripts he relies on for live broadcasting and the accessible audio tools he uses in the field. Recorded live at a webinar with guest host Emma Tracey, the episode also covers reporting under pressure and mentoring blind journalists.
43.) How AI, Accessibility, And Security Collide In 2026 | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 14, 2026
Analytically tracking the fast-moving overlap of technology and privacy, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece investigate major incidents impacting the visually impaired community, from Calibre and TAVIP data breaches to the real implications of Beacon CRM vulnerabilities. Their conversation weaves in practical strategies for digital payments, scrutiny of Microsoft Copilot’s interplay with accessibility, and a frank look at how AI-generated music is forcing a rethink on authenticity and ethics.
44.) August 2026 Webinar | Blazie Technologies | YouTube.com | August 14, 2026
Showcasing new feature rollouts, Blazie Technologies spotlights improvements to BT Braille and BT Speak, including streamlined Braille input, advanced translation options, and expanded help resources. The session features live demonstrations that clarify recent changes and reveal how these updates target greater productivity and everyday usability for both new and experienced users.
August 13, 2026 📅️
45.) AirPods That Can See: What We Know, What We Think and What We Hope | Anthony Corona | August 13, 2026
An analysis of reporting that Apple is developing AirPods with visual sensors feeding Siri and Visual Intelligence, separating what has been confirmed from what remains rumor. The piece considers what camera-equipped earbuds could mean for pedestrian navigation and environmental description, and argues that blind testers should be involved early.
46.) Ask Accessibility Expert Donna J. Jodhan: 10 Tips on What Is the Victor Reader Stream | SterlingCreations.ca | August 13, 2026
The latest entry in a monthly ten-tip series covers the HumanWare Victor Reader Stream, a portable digital talking book player operated by tactile buttons and voice prompts. The tips cover supported file formats, Wi-Fi downloads, bookmarking and battery life.
47.) Braille Apps 0.9 for Dot Pad and the Web | Braille Apps | August 13, 2026
Version 0.9 of Braille Apps adds a 23 Bricks game, a vibration test in Hardware Test, and Easy, Medium and Expert difficulty levels across Chess, Checkers, Connect 4, Tic Tac Toe and Minesweeper. The update also corrects chess square notation and unifies the browser and Dot Pad help content.
48.) For NVDA Users: Neovim Access Link 0.98.0 Released | GitHub.com | August 13, 2026
This NVDA add-on connects the screen reader to Neovim running in Windows Terminal and receives structured information directly from the editor, so navigation, editing, mode changes and messages are reported without reading every terminal repaint. It adds speech, sound and braille feedback, exploration commands that leave the cursor in place, and access to completion suggestions from language servers and linters.
49.) From NLS: DA2 Software Version 2.0 Now Available | NLS | August 13, 2026
The DA2 software update released on August 13 brings an enhanced Bookshelf, apps for Bookshare and NFB Newsline, and assorted bug fixes. The updated user guide is on the device and on the NLS website, with audio and braille editions to follow on BARD, and the announcement includes the online update steps.
50.) Talking Flight Monitor 8.1.0 Release Notes | TalkingFlightMonitor.com | August 13, 2026
Talking Flight Monitor 8.1.0 gives blind flight simulator pilots a new taxi guidance system with spoken directions and 3D guiding tones, a rebuilt automated First Officer that runs checklists and works cockpit switches, a separate Captain voice, and a traffic awareness system. The PMDG 777 no longer requires FSUIPC, and the Electronic Clipboard is now read-and-verify only.
51.) YouTube Playlist: Overview of the Windows 11 Environment With a Screen Reader | WCBVI | August 13, 2026
The Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has published a YouTube playlist with more than six hours of instruction on navigating Windows 11 with a screen reader. Videos run ten to seventeen minutes and cover the desktop, common Windows commands, the taskbar, Quick Settings, audio devices and File Explorer, with more to be added during the school year.
52.) AI Finally Gave Some of Us a Level Playing Field. I Don’t Want Watermarking to Take That Away. | Taylor Arndt | August 13, 2026
An accessibility professional examines Anthropic’s worldwide text watermarking, Google’s SynthID and the EU AI Act transparency rules, and asks where assistive editing ends and generation begins for disabled users. The piece argues that a provenance mark can only show AI was involved, not why, and that schools, employers and platforms may treat the two as the same thing.
53.) AI Unlocked My Voice. Watermarking Could Take It Away. | Lanie | August 13, 2026
A disabled writer describes how AI assistance underpins her writing, development work and daily planning, and why machine-readable watermarks on AI-processed text worry her. The concern is not provenance technology itself but the judgment that follows once content is flagged.
54.) Google’s 2026 Pixel Lineup: From Foldables to Health-Focused Wearables | Double Tap | YouTube.com | August 13, 2026
Sitting down with the news from Google’s 2026 Pixel Event, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece unpack the fresh Pixel 11 range, new Fold, and Pixel Watch 5. Their analysis highlights American Sign Language detection, post-quantum security, battery improvements, and AI-driven health features, plus candid thoughts on accessibility for blind and low-vision users.
Last Week 📅️
55.) ClaudeSpeak: Having Claude Code Read Its Replies Through Your Screen Reader | TheIdeaPlace.net | August 12, 2026
ClaudeSpeak speaks each Claude Code reply once through JAWS or NVDA using their own voice settings, pulling the text from the session transcript so no extra tokens are used. Configuration controls whether code blocks, tables and URLs are spoken, and the write-up documents the NVDA controller client requirements.
56.) Meta Adventurer Glasses: Real-World Review for Blind Users | Double Tap | August 12, 2026
Steven Scott and Shaun Preece are joined by Gordon Anthony to compare the Meta Adventurer smart glasses with the earlier Meta Ray-Bans, covering audio quality, battery life, microphone performance and the Meta AI app. The episode also weighs public perception and privacy concerns against the practical benefits for blind users.
57.) Navigating the World With TMAP, Featuring Dr. Josh Miele | Dot Inc. | August 12, 2026
Dot interviews Dr. Josh Miele about the Tactile Map Automated Production system he began at Smith-Kettlewell in 2003, and about bringing automated tactile street maps to the Dot Pad. The conversation covers his route into accessibility work and why tactile spatial overviews do something turn-by-turn audio routing cannot.
58.) Recording of the Blazie Technologies August Webinar Is Now Available | BlazieTech.com | August 12, 2026
The recording of the August Blazie Technologies webinar is posted on the company’s Resources page. It covers new features in the latest update, particularly braille translation improvements, with demonstrations of adding and reviewing tasks in an editor file and a question and answer segment.
59.) What Can Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses Do? 5 Use Cases for Your Everyday Routine | CNET.com | August 12, 2026
A CNET sponsored feature for Meta running through everyday uses for Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, including real-time translation, hands-free capture, cooking and shopping assistance and navigation. An accessibility section covers Conversation focus in noisy rooms and the Be My Eyes integration for blind and low vision wearers.
60.) Why Speech Central for Windows Is Still Available | SpeechCentral.net | August 12, 2026
The developer of Speech Central explains why the Windows version remains on sale despite no longer receiving active feature development, tracing the shift from shared cross-platform code to platform-specific builds and the toolchain problems that made further changes unsafe. Restoring a trial in the Microsoft Store ended the run of negative reviews and changed the decision to keep it available.
61.) Practical Guidelines for Making Destructive Actions Accessible | Access Ability | August 12, 2026
A practitioner guide to designing delete, cancel and account-closure flows that will not trap screen reader and keyboard users, covering plain-language warnings that name the object and the consequence, dialog focus management, and where focus should land afterward. It also argues for consistent button placement with the safe choice as the default, and sets out how to test these flows without destroying the data they need.
62.) Audible Has Removed the Download Button From Their Website | Good e-Reader | August 11, 2026
Audible has removed the option to download audiobooks as computer files from its desktop library on the American site, leaving the web interface to streaming or the mobile apps. With the legacy Windows app already retired, the article outlines the remaining options for keeping local copies.
63.) Airline Website Accessibility: Booking and Seat Selection While Blind | UsableNet.com | August 11, 2026
The fourth post in a five-part series documents the checkout barriers a blind traveller encounters on airline sites, including graphical and table-based seat maps that convey nothing useful, fields that will not read back what was typed, and mislabeled trip protection checkboxes. Each barrier is paired with what developers should test on their own sites.
64.) Building the Live Captions App I Wish Windows Shipped | TheIdeaPlace.net | August 10, 2026
Accessible Live Captions is a Windows demonstration app that transcribes microphone or system audio into a scrollable, keyboard-navigable transcript, announcing each finished line through Narrator, NVDA or JAWS. It offers four on-device speech engines, keeps a reviewable history, and can exclude the screen reader’s own speech from captured audio.
65.) Demod: A New iOS and iPadOS App for Exploring Remote Receivers | The SWLing Post | August 9, 2026
Demod connects to KiwiSDR, SpyServer and rtl_tcp servers and includes a directory of public receivers, so shortwave listening is possible without owning radio hardware. An Identify function uses the HFCC schedule, receiver location and UTC time to name the station, and the app performs on-device transcription and translation of received audio.
66.) Libro.fm Is Expanding Into E-Books in the Coming Months | Good e-Reader | August 8, 2026
Libro.fm has announced that ebooks will join audiobooks on the platform, with purchases continuing to benefit a customer’s chosen independent bookshop. A LibroSync feature will let readers toggle between the audiobook and ebook or follow the text while listening, though Kindle will not be supported.
67.) Passing the Accessibility Torch to Sarah Margolis-Greenbaum, New Head of Accessibility at Intuit | Ted Drake | August 8, 2026
After fifteen years leading accessibility at Intuit, Ted Drake announces Sarah Margolis-Greenbaum as his successor and moves to lead the Intuit Design System and Inclusive Design organization. The post reflects on building an accessibility program that outlasts its founder and on the AI-assisted audit tooling the new leader has developed.
68.) From Bonocle: BoQuest Is Here, Practice Braille This Summer for Free | Braillists.org | August 7, 2026
Bonocle has released BoQuest, a free app on the App Store and Google Play offering more than ten activities for practising braille on any braille display. The company reports learners completed over 300 hours of practice in the app in the previous month.
Featured Events 📅️
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August 20, 2026 | Member-Only Event: Everyday Accessibility Mistakes | National Organization on Disability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
A 25-minute virtual session for NOD Leadership Council members covering the most common accessibility missteps organizations make and how to avoid them. Access is restricted to Council members; non-members can join the Leadership Council to attend this and similar exclusive briefings on accessible practice.
August 20, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shares simple techniques to help people with changing vision move safely and confidently around the home and beyond.
August 21, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores easy ways to organize and label a home so it feels calmer, easier, and more predictable to navigate with changing vision.
August 22, 2026 | Young Birders United Conference Registration Closes | Taking Flight
Final day to register for the inaugural Young Birders United Conference, the free virtual gathering hosted by Taking Flight on Saturday, August 29. Every individual attending must register, including young birders, chapter leaders, parents and supporters.
August 24, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shows how contrast, better lighting, and less glare can make a home easier to see and move through.
August 25, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
August 25, 2026 | Introducing Intersector – A new Navigation Tool from Marco Salsiccia | Brad Snyder | Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS)
5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), as we welcome app developer Marco Salsiccia, as he discusses the creation, development and implementation of Intersector, a new navigation app for iOS, now available in the iOS AppStore.
Intersector is, an accessible iOS navigation app built to identify nearest and upcoming intersections when out and about. Marco will discuss how this app went from concept to creation using Vibe Coding, as well as direct user testing. Marco will go over issues to look out for when utilizing generative AI for code production, and the general process of submitting an app to the iOS AppStore.
August 25, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session, Vision Support America walks through simple ways to make an iPhone work better for changing vision, at a comfortable pace.
August 26, 2026 | Voice Control For Accessibility: Dictation And Navigation With Dragon, J-Dictate, And J-Say | Access Ingenuity
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Join Ian Ramos, Mark Schafer, and Elizabeth Ratto from Access Ingenuity for practical demonstrations of Dragon, J-Dictate, and J-Say. Learn how each voice-control solution supports hands-free navigation, writing, editing, and desktop control while comparing their strengths, limitations, and suitability for different workflows.
August 26, 2026 | My Eyes Donβt Work, But My Brain Still Does! | National Federation Of The Blind Of Maryland Senior Issues Division
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
Join the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Senior Issues Division for an engaging session with Brian Buhrow and Mark Roane, who share practical insights from their experiences completing home repairs as blind individuals. Gain confidence and learn useful tips for handling basic home maintenance projects independently.
August 26, 2026 | Partner Webinar with APH: Six JAWS Tips for Streamlining Web Research Workflows | APH
12:00 PM PT, 1:00 PM MT, 2:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
APH’s Passport to Innovation series opens its first partner session with Elizabeth Whitaker of Vispero, who presents six JAWS tips for web-based research tasks. The webinar covers comparing sources, interpreting images and visuals, completing online forms, taking notes and organizing information across multiple websites. Registration is required through Zoom.
August 26, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America leads a supportive conversation on small, practical steps toward feeling comfortable and confident in the kitchen again with changing vision.
August 27, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores different ways to keep reading a part of everyday life, in whatever form works best now.
August 29, 2026 | Inaugural Young Birders United Conference | Taking Flight
8:00 AM PT, 9:00 AM MT, 10:00 AM CT, 11:00 AM ET
Taking Flight hosts the inaugural Young Birders United Conference, a free virtual gathering of young birder representatives to celebrate, connect and collaborate on establishing young birder chapters nationwide. Keynote speakers are Mackenzie Hollender, Isaiah Scott and Lorena Patricio, alongside state chapter presentations and workshops on building community and sustainability. Young birders with or without chapters, parents and supporters are all welcome, with no limit per chapter or state. Registration is due August 22 and everyone attending must register.
August 31, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America
10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America introduces simple, confidence-building ways to make an Android phone more accessible.
September 1, 2026 | RESIST! Join the Launch of the Community Coalition for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion: A LinkedIn Live Event | DrKirkAdams.com
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
There are moments in history when simply holding the line is not enough. This is one of those moments. Across the country, organizations, educators, businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, advocates, and community leaders who believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging are facing unprecedented challenges. Programs are being dismantled. Funding is disappearing. Professionals are feeling isolated. Too many people who have dedicated their lives to building stronger, more inclusive communities are wondering where to turn next.
September 1, 2026 | Birdability Access Survey Closes | Birdability
Last day to complete the Birdability Access Survey. Birdability wants to hear from birders with disabilities, chronic illness or other health concerns about barriers encountered while birding and accommodations that have made a difference. Results directly inform Birdability’s future resources, advocacy and efforts to make birding more welcoming and accessible.
September 3, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shares simple techniques to help people with changing vision move safely and confidently around the home and beyond.
September 4, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores easy ways to organize and label a home so it feels calmer, easier, and more predictable to navigate with changing vision.
September 7, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shows how contrast, better lighting, and less glare can make a home easier to see and move through.
September 8, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session, Vision Support America walks through simple ways to make an iPhone work better for changing vision, at a comfortable pace.
September 9, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America leads a supportive conversation on small, practical steps toward feeling comfortable and confident in the kitchen again with changing vision.
September 10, 2026 | Virtual Career Fair | National Organization on Disability
9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
The National Organization on Disability hosts a free virtual career fair connecting disability-inclusive employers with job-ready candidates, giving students and hiring teams alike the tools and direct access to succeed at inclusive recruitment.
September 10, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores different ways to keep reading a part of everyday life, in whatever form works best now.
September 14, 2026 | Leadership Council Open House | National Organization on Disability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free open house, the National Organization on Disability introduces its Leadership Councilβa community of companies advancing disability inclusion in the workplaceβand the partnership opportunities available to organizations ready to turn intention into measurable results.
September 14, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America
10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America introduces simple, confidence-building ways to make an Android phone more accessible.
September 15, 2026 | Leadership Insights: Disability Inclusion Dialogues | National Organization on Disability
9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET
A 90-minute virtual peer-focused discussion for senior-level NOD Leadership Council members on disability inclusion and workforce retention. The session features insights from Candee Chambers, Director of the Office of Public Liaison at the U.S. Department of Labor, who joins industry leaders to address strategic retention challenges.
September 16, 2026 | Birdability Book Club: Turning to Birds by Lili Taylor | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
The Birdability Book Club discusses Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing by Lili Taylor. Best known as an actor, Taylor is also a devoted birder, and this collection of essays explores what happens when we slow down long enough to really pay attention. A fitting read ahead of Birdability Week and its Bird Where You Are theme. Free; registration required. The club meets every other month on the third Wednesday.
September 17, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shares simple techniques to help people with changing vision move safely and confidently around the home and beyond.
September 18, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores easy ways to organize and label a home so it feels calmer, easier, and more predictable to navigate with changing vision.
September 20, 2026 | Birdability Week Offbeat Photo and Video Contest Closes | Birdability
Final day to enter Birdability’s Offbeat Photo and Video Contest, which celebrates the awkward, funny and unexpected side of birds. Six categories span photography and feeder-camera video: Wing and a Prayer (and Poop!), Autofocus Gone Wrong, Birds Doing Bird Stuff, Birds with Disabilities, BIRB, and Not BIRB. Free to enter and open worldwide, with one entry per category and no special equipment required – phones, point-and-shoots, adaptive technology and feeder cameras all welcome. Winners are announced at the Birdability Week closing social on October 25.
September 21, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America shows how contrast, better lighting, and less glare can make a home easier to see and move through.
September 22, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
September 22, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session, Vision Support America walks through simple ways to make an iPhone work better for changing vision, at a comfortable pace.
September 23, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America leads a supportive conversation on small, practical steps toward feeling comfortable and confident in the kitchen again with changing vision.
September 24, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America explores different ways to keep reading a part of everyday life, in whatever form works best now.
September 28, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America
10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America introduces simple, confidence-building ways to make an Android phone more accessible.
October 1, 2026 | Technology and the Disability Experience | National Organization on Disability
The National Organization on Disability convenes leaders from business, technology, and advocacy at its Times Center gathering in New York to explore how emerging technologiesβincluding AI, extended reality, and smart devicesβare reshaping accessibility and the future of disability inclusion in the workforce.
October 9, 2026 | EnAble Learning Office Hours | National Organization on Disability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
In this free session, the National Organization on Disability walks employers through its EnAble Learning on-demand training and fields questions on building disability confidence, improving retention, and creating more inclusive, productive teams.
October 19, 2026 | Birdability Week 2026: Bird Where You Are | Birdability
Birdability Week returns October 19 through 25, 2026, with the theme Bird Where You Are – an invitation to notice birds in whatever way works best for you, whether that is from a window, a wheelchair, a car, a hospital room, a kayak or a favorite park bench. The week is a celebration of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, and includes a full schedule of free virtual events, the Offbeat Photo and Video Contest, and accessible outings hosted around the country. All virtual events include captions and ASL interpretation.
October 19, 2026 | Finding Balance: Self-Care While Birding – A Birdability Week 2026 Discussion | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains Eric Clow and Jayme Boucher co-facilitate an open community roundtable on the many ways disabled birders care for themselves while spending time with birds – from birding while floating in a pool, to adaptive equipment that reduces fatigue, to choosing places where birds can be enjoyed without walking. Bring your own tips and hear practical ideas from others. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 20, 2026 | Birding While d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing Panel | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains, community members and past Accessible Birding Interns who identify as Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing and late-deafened share their birding journeys, the barriers they have encountered and the accommodations that have helped. The panel explores the distinction between Deaf as a cultural and linguistic identity and deaf as a term for hearing loss, the many ways people connect with birds beyond sound, and practical ideas for making bird walks, clubs and festivals more welcoming. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 21, 2026 | Inclusive Nature Panel | Birdability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
Author and editor Lauren Pharr moderates a conversation with contributors to the upcoming book Inclusive Nature about creating outdoor spaces, conservation organizations and birding communities where more people truly belong. Drawing on lived experience and professional work, panelists explore how race, disability, gender and culture have shaped who has had access to nature, and identify actions individuals and organizations can take. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 22, 2026 | Birding at the Intersections | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains and community members with intersecting identities discuss how race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, culture and neurodivergence shape people’s experiences of birding and time in nature. Panelists explore how barriers to participation overlap and reinforce one another, and how belonging is created when communities recognize the whole person rather than a single aspect of identity. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 23, 2026 | Birding With an Energy-Limiting Condition Panel | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Many birders live with conditions that affect energy, stamina, pain, fatigue or post-exertional recovery. Birdability Captains share how they have adapted their birding to fit changing bodies and lives – birding closer to home, pacing themselves, and embracing rest, mobility aids and technology. They talk honestly about the emotional side of adjusting expectations and letting go of the idea that there is only one right way to be a birder. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 24, 2026 | Birds and Brains: A Keynote Conversation About Traumatic Brain Injury and Healing With Birds | Birdability
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET
Birdability Week keynote speaker Day Scott (@TheWildernessGoddess) and Birdability Captain Emily Nichols talk about living with and recovering from traumatic brain injury, and the unexpected ways birds became part of the healing process. Drawing on lived experience and emerging science about the brain’s capacity to adapt and change, they reflect on how paying attention to birds can support healing, emotional well-being and a renewed sense of possibility. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 25, 2026 | Birdability Week Wrap-Up Social and Photo and Video Contest Winners Announced | Birdability
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET
Birdability Week 2026 closes with a community celebration and the announcement of the winners of the 2026 Offbeat Photo and Video Contest. See this year’s finalist photos and videos, hear the stories behind them, celebrate the photographers and videographers, and share your own favorite Birdability Week memory. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.
October 27, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
November 8, 2026 | 18th Annual Dining In The Dark Fundraiser To Benefit The Blind | Florida Outreach Center For The Blind
1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Experience an unforgettable evening at the 18th Annual Dining in the Dark, where guests enjoy a three-course meal served in complete darkness by the PBSO SWAT Team using night-vision goggles. The night also features live entertainment, an inspiring guest speaker, and a silent auction supporting programs for the blind community in Palm Beach County.
November 18, 2026 | Birdability Book Club: Birdsong by the Seasons by Donald Kroodsma | Birdability
4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
The Birdability Book Club closes out 2026 with Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma, a lyrical guide to a year of sound. The book was chosen so readers could follow along month by month through the year and then gather in November to share reflections from twelve months of attentive listening. Free; registration required.
November 19, 2026 | Member-Only Event: Practices for Accessible Virtual Meetings | National Organization on Disability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
A 25-minute virtual session for NOD Leadership Council members focused on practical, hands-on strategies for making virtual meetings more inclusive and accessible to all participants. The full briefing is restricted to Council members; non-members can join the Leadership Council to attend this and similar exclusive members-only sessions.
November 24, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
December 17, 2026 | CEO Office Hours: Looking Back/Looking Forward | National Organization on Disability
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In a free, year-end CEO Office Hours led by Beth Sirull, the National Organization on Disability reflects on milestones in disability inclusion and looks ahead to the strategies that will shape the coming year.
December 22, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley
11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
Surveys 📝️
π Submit your survey for consideration within this section here.
1.) Get Paid To Share Your Lived Experience: Geographic Atrophy (Macular Degeneration) Research With Rare Patient Voice And Dr. Kirk Adams
Rare Patient Voice is currently seeking patients and caregivers diagnosed with Macular Degeneration: Geographic Atrophy to share their experiences in a paid research study. Participants will take part in a 60-minute web-assisted phone interview focused on daily life with Geographic Atrophy, current treatments, and unmet needs, and will receive $120 in compensation for their time. To be considered, individuals must first join the Rare Patient Voice panel. After joining the panel, Rare Patient Voice will reach out directly to those who qualify with study details and scheduling information.
2.) Paid Study for People with Low-vision: Exploring Charts with AI | University of Tokyo | Deadline: August 28, 2026
Researchers at The University of Tokyo are recruiting participants for a paid online study on making data charts more accessible for people with low vision. We are looking for English-speaking adults aged 18 or older who use their residual vision to access visual content on a computer and have experience with screen magnification, browser zoom, or another enlargement method. The study will take place online via Zoom between August 3 and August 14, 2026, and will last approximately 90 minutes. Participants must use a desktop or laptop computer and share their screen during the session. The chart tasks must be completed visually; a screen reader cannot be used as the primary method for completing them. Participants will receive a gift card worth the equivalent of $45 USD. The study is led by Yotam Sechayk, a researcher who also has low vision. To indicate your interest, please complete a short survey.
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Buy, Sell or Trade 📝️
π List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD.
1.) FOR SALE: One New OmniReader Text Scanner
Listing Date: 8/6/2026 | Price: $1500.00 USD | Condition: New | Description: Optical text scanner and reader. New in the box. The omniReader reads printed text to you by pressing a single button. You can follow the magnified text in high-contrast colors on the built-in screen, or simply listen as the omniReader reads text out loud. You can also use the screen to instantly magnify objects and see them more clearly. Thanks to its lightweight design, built-in handle, and long battery life, you can pick it up and use it wherever you want β even on the go. Accurately and instantly read and magnify text. Large, easy-to-use controls with profiles for low vision and blind users. Portable, and lightweight β ideal to take with you. Connect a headset to listen to documents privately. Magnify small objects and fine print in Live Viewing Mode, scan and read documents in portrait orientation, save multi-page documents, read from and save to a USB thumb drive. Scan material in 17 different languages and listen with multiple human-sounding voices. Contact: Dean at deanpodolsky@gmail.com 📧️.
2.) FOR SALE: One Gently Used SensePlayer OCR
Listing Date: 7/30/2026 | Price: $700.00 USD | Condition: Gently Used | Description: The SensePlayer OCR is like having a small computer in your hand. Itβs light weight and smaller than any library reader. It fits well in a bag or purse. It can read books out loud, read print books and lots more! Itβs about the size of a telephone receiver. It comes with a stand thatβs never been out of the box as well as a fitted leather case made by Trutleback and a set of ear buds. It can record lecture. It can assess online radio stations that a normal stereo can not. It has WiFi and Bluetooth. It has a camera for reading print documents such as mail. You can access Audible and BARD on the device. There are many more things you can do with it. Itβs well worth the money! Itβs neat! Contact: Stephanie at stephaniepruitt0917@gmail.com 📧️ or +1 (620) 330-7356 📱️.
3.) FOR SALE: One Buy, Sell or Trade Advertisement (Just like this one.)
Price: $5.00 USD | Description: List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5 USD.
Sponsor Classified Ads 🎯️
⬆︎ 5.) Sponsor: SelvasBLV
👉️ Classified Advertisement: BrailleSense 7 pre-order ending SOON | SelvasBLV
Thank you to everyone who visited Selvas BLV during this summer’s convention season! The excitement and positive feedback surrounding the all-new BrailleSense 7 made this an unforgettable summer.
If you’ve been considering a BrailleSense 7, now is the time to act. The BrailleSense 7 pre-order promotion ends on August 31st at 11:59 PM (midnight).
You may place your preorder online.
The award-winning BrailleSense 7 is our most advanced smart braille tablet yet, featuring innovative touch-sensitive braille cells, Android 15, integrated AI powered by Google Gemini, a user-replaceable battery, and enhanced braille-first productivity tools designed for work, school, and everyday life.
Sponsor Since: September 30, 2021 📅️
Website: https://selvasblv.com/ 🌐️
Shop All Products: https://selvasblv.com/shop-all-products/ 🛒️
Phone: (512) 837-2000 📱️
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBEeuowOC70
Sales: sales@selvasblv.com 📧️
Support: support@selvasblv.com 📧️
About: SelvasBLV is a global manufacturer and distributor that has provided braille, magnification and accessible healthcare devices since 1999.
⬆︎ 4.) Sponsor: Carroll Center for the Blind
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Elevate Your Skills With Our Screen Reader User Tester Training Program At The Carroll Center For The Blind
Launch your career in the digital accessibility field! The Carroll Center for the Blind’s 5-week remote intensive Screen Reader User Tester Training program builds skills for employment opportunities within the Digital Accessibility industry. Participants are prepared for CPPAC certification and Section 508 Trusted Tester. Graduates can participate for paid internships with Fidelity. Want to learn more? Start your journey to becoming a Screen Reader User Tester today.
Sponsor Since: August 5, 2021 📅️
Website: https://carroll.org/ 🌐️
Phone: (617) 969-6200 📱️
Fax: (617) 969-6204 ░️
Shop: https://carroll.org/store/ 🛒️
Donate: https://carroll.org/donate ❤️
Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram
About: The Carroll Center for the Blind is the foremost leader in vision rehabilitation services for individuals confronted by the challenges of vision loss. Our mission is to empower those who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and to lead a fulfilling life. Established in 1936, the renowned Carroll Center for the Blind has been serving those with vision impairment for over eight decades; we are known nationally as a premier Vision Rehabilitation Center. Located just outside of Boston on a sprawling campus in Newton, Massachusetts, we proudly serve ALL ages and ALL stages of vision loss. With the ongoing promise of improving the lives of people with vision-related problems, The Carroll Center for the Blind has pioneered many innovative services allowing people who are blind or have low vision to learn the skills to be independent in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. Our services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities for individuals who are visually impaired of all ages. For over 80 years, the expertise of Carroll Center staff has provided help for thousands of blind and visually impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living.
⬆︎ 3.) Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
👉️ Classified Advertisement: The Title II Deadline Was Extended. Donβt Get Comfortable. | Pneuma Solutions
On April 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice officially extended the compliance deadlines for ADA Title II web and mobile accessibility.
If you serve a population of 50,000 or more, your new deadline is April 26, 2027.
If you are under that threshold, you are now looking at April 26, 2028.
A lot of people are reacting to this as relief. I wouldnβt. The frustration from the blind community is real – when people hear βextension,β the reaction is not academic. It is personal.
We have been waiting. That said, let’s make one primary fact clear. The expectation is still the same. State and local governments are required to make their web content and mobile applications accessible. All that moved is the date on the calendar.
If this extension gives you the space to build a real, sustainable approach to accessibility, it is a good thing.
If it becomes an excuse to wait, it’s going to make the problem worse.
Sponsor Since: June 3, 2021 📅️
Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐️
Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education.
Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️
Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️
About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We’re proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it’s a right. It’s also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive?
Contact us here. We’ll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs.
⬆︎ 2.) Sponsor: Freedom Scientific
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Freedom Scientific Focus Blue 5th Generation Refreshable Braille Displays | Freedom Scientific
Our world-class refreshable Braille displays deliver efficient Braille input and outstanding output for your PC or mobile device. The robust Bluetooth® connectivity provides seamless use with Windows®, Mac®, iPhones®, iPads®, and Android TM smartphones and tablets. Ergonomic navigation features allow quick, natural hand movements for greater productivity. When used with JAWS® screen reading software, they support our popular Braille Study Mode, an interactive tool for teaching and learning Braille. Learn more today.
Sponsor Since: April 15, 2021 📅️
Website: https://www.freedomscientific.com/ 🌐️
Email: info@vispero.com 📧️
Phone: (800) 444-4443 📱️
Facebook | Twitter | YouTube (Training)
About: Freedom Scientific, a Vispero brand, is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. We offer products designed to promote independence, allowing blind and low vision individuals the same access to information as their sighted peers. World-renowned JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software and ZoomText screen magnification software provide users the independence and ability to seek education and obtain or maintain a career after vision loss. Our expansive product line includes both low vision and blindness technology for all aspects of daily living. The wide range of RUBY, TOPAZ, and ONYX desktop and portable video magnifiers are designed for their ease of use and assist with daily activities. Our impressive line of blindness hardware products include refreshable Braille displays and scanning and reading devices, offering many options tailored to fit individual needs.
⬆︎ 1.) Sponsor: A. T. Guys
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub | A. T. Guys
If you’re like me, you probably have more things to plug into your computer than available ports. That’s why we’ve now added the Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub. Plug it into your laptop and you will get 3 USB ports, SD and Micro SD card slots, a USBC charging port, and an HDMI video port. It’s available now for just $29.95.
Sponsor Since: June 11, 2020 📅️
Website: https://www.atguys.com/ 🌐️
Phone: (269) 216-4798 📱️
Email: support@atguys.com 📧️
Skype: atguys 💬️
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/atguys (@atguys) 💬️
Facebook: https://facebook.com/atguys 💬️
About: ATGuys.com. Your access technology experts, home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Our products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users but also work just as well for anyone. If there’s an item you’re looking for, or if you have a question, please don’t hesitate to send us a message or call (269) 216-4798 📱️.
⬆︎ 14.) Sponsor: OneCourt
👉️ Classified Advertisement: OneCourt Announces Special Offer For Top Tech Tidbits Readers | OneCourt
What if you could feel your favorite sports right under your fingertips, in real time, and without a sighted friend’s narration?
OneCourt created the worldβs first tactile sports broadcast that turns official game data into vibrations, so Blind and Low Vision fans can feel the action in real time. After 2 years of delighting fans in NFL, NBA, and MLB venues, OneCourt is excited to announce that consumer preorders are now open!
With OneCourtβs tablet and All-Access bundle, youβll be the first to access NFL, NBA, and MLB games from the comfort of your couch, watch party, or sports bar.
Every Top Tech Tidbits reader who enters the code βTTT26β at checkout will receive 1 free month of OneCourtβs All-Access subscription! Thatβs one more month of watching all of your favorite MLB, NBA, and NFL games, for FREE.
Sponsor Since: June 13, 2026 📅️
Website: https://onecourt.io/ 🌐️
About: OneCourt is a Seattle-based assistive-technology company, founded in 2021 at the University of Washington, that invented the “tactile broadcast,” a new way for blind and low-vision fans to follow live sports by touch. Its patent-pending haptic tablet pairs with interchangeable, raised court-and-field overlays and taps the official tracking data the NFL, NBA, and MLB already collect, translating it into a “haptic language” of trackable vibrations. Resting their palms on the surface, fans feel the play unfold in real time, paired with synchronized audio, experiencing the game independently and at the same instant as the crowd around them.
OneCourt is already on the biggest stages in sport, from Super Bowl LX and the NBA and MLB All-Star Games to more than ten professional teams that offer it free to fans at every home game, and it has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, SXSW Pitch, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, and the NBA Launchpad. With its new at-home product, anyone with a smartphone can now feel the game from their living room. Guided by the belief that “Sports Are For Everyone,” OneCourt’s mission is to make entertainment accessible by 2030. Learn more at https://onecourt.io.
Preorder OneCourt at-Home | For Stadiums | Experience OneCourt Live | In the News | About
⬆︎ 13.) Sponsor: Venngage
Sponsor Since: May 21, 2026 📅️
Website: https://venngage.com/ 🌐️
About: Venngage is the accessibility-first design platform for business communications. Where Canva went mainstream, Venngage went deep on the documents compliance teams actually procure, accessible PDFs, forms, infographics, reports, presentations, and white papers built by people who are not professional designers. A built-in WCAG 2.1 AA checker flags issues mid-canvas rather than after export, AI alt text and AI chart interpretation are native to the authoring environment, and PDF/UA export preserves semantic tags, headings, reading order, table structure, so JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver parse the file without secondary remediation in Acrobat.
Built in Toronto and bootstrapped since 2012, Venngage publishes its own VPATs at the WCAG 2.1 AA level and serves higher education, state and local government, healthcare, and financial services teams preparing for ADA Title II, the EU Accessibility Act, and Section 508.
About | Sign Up For Free | Login | Features | Accessible PDF Maker | AI Tools | Templates | Learn | Pricing
⬆︎ 12.) Sponsor: Accessible Data Limited
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Special Offer for Top Tech Tidbits Readers | Accessible Data Limited
Planning a survey? Get 10% off your first year by signing up via our Tidbits Referral Link.
Get deeper insights through broadening inclusion.
Still have questions? Book a call with Jerry today!
Sponsor Since: May 21, 2026 📅️
Website: https://accessiblesurveys.com/ 🌐️
Email: info@accessiblesurveys.com 📧️
About: Accessible Data: Closing the Disability Data Gap. Most organizations make critical decisions based on incomplete data. When standard tools exclude the 16% of the global population with disabilities, their opinions are not heard and data integrity is compromised.
Accessible Data bridges this gap. Born from a partnership with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), our platform moves beyond compliance with standards to make accessibility the foundation of quality data collection.
With our core product, Accessible Surveys, respondents choose how they engage with questions β via sign language videos, Easy-Read formats, high-contrast themes, screen-reader optimization, or voice recording.
Trusted by clients inclusing the UN, IDA, and KPMG, we are building a complete accessible data ecosystem.
⬆︎ 11.) Sponsor: Lumin
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Lumin is Available on the App Store! | Lumin
Lumin, the accessibility-first AI voice assistant that lets you talk to your email, is now on the App Store for all iPhone users with Gmail! Lumin manages your inbox, prioritizing your most important messages, reading them to you, and letting you reply and write entirely by voice. Built for and by the blind and low vision community, Lumin is an essential tool for anyone who wants to rely less on screens. Download it now!
Sponsor Since: February 12, 2026 📅️
Website: https://luminade.ai/ 🌐️
Email: support@luminade.ai 📧️
About: Lumin is an AI voice assistant that lets you manage your email just by talking. Built for people with vision impairment, ADHD, and dyslexia, Lumin lets you read, write, and reply to email entirely by voice. Founded on the belief that the best interfaces start with accessibility. Whether you’re commuting, multitasking, or simply prefer voice, Lumin keeps you productive without compromise.
Try Lumin today at https://luminade.ai/.
YouTube | X (Formerly Twitter)
⬆︎ 10.) Sponsor: Vision Tech Academy
Sponsor Since: January 15, 2025 📅️
Website: https://visiontechacademy.com/ 🌐️
About: Vision Tech Academy is a website, platform and online directory dedicated to empowering blind and low-vision individuals by connecting them with trusted assistive technology educators for free.
Vision Tech Academy is the home of the free, access-technology specific, Online Directory of Educators (ODE).
Inspired by the legacy of John Panarese, the Academy website serves as a hub for accessible learning, offering a free directory of access educators, live and recorded courses, and resources to foster learning independence and success.
With an ongoing mission to provide high-quality, trusted, personalized training on tools like VoiceOver, JAWS, NVDA and Braille technology, Vision Tech Academy bridges the gap between technology and accessibility, ensuring inclusive and accessible education for all.
📖️ Free Directory for Students
📖️ Free General Profiles for All Access Educators
🏅️ Premium Profiles for Access Educators Who Want More Reach
⬆︎ 9.) Sponsor: Donna Jodhan
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Join Donna J. Jodhan’s Campaign To Host Camp Retreats To Help Young Blind High School Leavers And Adults To Learn How To Believe And Achieve
Every year, many young blind high school graduates and adults face uncertainty, isolation, and limited opportunities as they transition into independent living, higher education, or the workforce. Your support can change that.
Join Donna J. Jodhan’s campaign to establish empowering camp retreats where blind youth and adults can build confidence, develop essential life and leadership skills, explore career pathways, and learn to believe in their own potential. These retreats will provide hands-on training, mentoring, peer support, and inspirational experiences designed to foster independence, resilience, and success.
Together, we can create a safe and encouraging environment where participants discover their strengths, overcome barriers, and gain the tools they need to achieve their dreams. Every contribution helps bring hope, opportunity, and lasting change to those who deserve the chance to thrive.
Sponsor Since: September 20, 2024 📅️
Website: https://donnajodhan.com/ 🌐️
About: Meet Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA. World-renowned blind advocate, accessibility champion, and change maker. Global leader in disability rights, digital accessibility, and inclusive policy reform.
Donna J. Jodhan is a globally recognized blind advocate, author, entrepreneur, law graduate, coach, and accessibility strategist whose groundbreaking work has transformed the landscape for people with disabilities in Canada and beyond. She is best known for turning legal victories into practical, lasting change β a mission she sums up in her guiding philosophy: βTurning policy into progress for people with disabilities.β
Donna’s career spans decades of advocacy, legal reform, entrepreneurship, and public engagement. Through her leadership she has inspired governments, corporations, and communities to break down barriers, uphold dignity, and ensure equal access for all.
Learn more today at: https://donnajodhan.com.
⬆︎ 8.) Sponsor: Wayaround
👉️ Classified Advertisement: FREE Sampler Pack with a Purchase of Any 25-pack of WayTags | Wayaround
WayAround is a smartphone-based labeling app that works with your preferred accessibility settings. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags ® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more.
If you want to label something that’s inside, outside, wet, dry, hot, or cold, there’s a WayTag that will attach securely. WayTags come as stickers, buttons, magnets, and clips. Each of the different styles of WayTags work exactly the same. Simply choose the WayTag that’s best for what you want to label.
Purchase a 25-pack of any style of WayTag and get a free Sampler Pack so you can try all seven different WayTags. Enter the coupon code SAMPLE at checkout and the Sampler Pack will automatically be added to your cart. This is a $14.99 value! Limit one Sample pack per order.
Sponsor Since: January 5, 2023 📅️
Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐️
General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️
Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️
Email: connect@wayaround.com 📧️
About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence.
All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®.
Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn’t poor eyesight. It’s that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn’t have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence.
Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8
Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround
⬆︎ 7.) Sponsor: Aira
Sponsor Since: August 4, 2022 📅️
Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐️
Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/
Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️
Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📱️ | AU: +61.488.839.767 📱️ | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📱️
Email: support@aira.io 📧️
About: At Aira, we believe access to information is a human right. Aira breaks down accessibility barriers by providing on-demand video remote interpreting for both the blind and low-vision community, and the Deaf Community. People can download the Aira Explorer app or the Aira ASL app, and be instantly connected to a professional interpreter. Available 24/7/365, interpreters work with callers to facilitate more efficient communication and accomplish tasks together. Aira is proud to lead the way in delivering secure, on-demand, inclusive services that transform lives and open doors to new opportunities for all.
Contact Us | Access Partners | Plans and Pricing
Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time.
Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works.
Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it.
Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
⬆︎ 6.) Sponsor: Fable Tech Labs
👉️ Classified Advertisement: Learn Management Skills For Free. Get The Job You Want | Fable
Everyone deserves equal access to the internet which is why Fable works with people with disabilities who use assistive technologies like switch controls to improve the accessibility of websites and apps. Fable Pathways, a free, accessible, and on-demand skill-building program, is an extension of Fable’s mission. Fable Pathways provides new opportunities for people with disabilities to gain the skills they need, from experts like Judy Heumann and Kelly Ford, to contribute to improving digital accessibility.
Sponsor Since: June 30, 2022 📅️
Website: https://makeitfable.com/ 🌐️
Email: community@makeitfable.com 📧️
About: Fable is an accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities, connecting them to accessibility managers, user researchers, designers, and developers to build accessible user experiences.
Opportunities:
➜ Accessibility Tester: Testers drive meaningful change in digital accessibility by sharing feedback on the websites and apps of the companies that care. As a Tester, earn a competitive tech industry wage, learn valuable transferrable skills, and grow your career. Fable is looking for assistive technology users in the US or Canada to work the hours that they want, completely from home. No experience or resume required.
➜ Survey Respondent: Survey Respondents enjoy a remote, low-commitment income opportunity, all while contributing to accessibility research. Surveys are typically sent out once a month, and you can earn $5 to $50 per survey. Apply today if you identify as having a disability and live in the US or Canada. You do not need to use assistive technology to apply.
⬆︎ 15.) Sponsor: Your Name Here
Purchase: Sponsorship Package 💸️ (Packages currently available.)
Join: Waiting List 📋️ (When there are no sponsorship packages available.)
Sponsor Since: Today 📅️
Website: https://toptechtidbits.com/sponsor 🌐️
Phone: (855) 578-6660 📱️
Email: enews@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
About: Founded in 2004, Top Tech Tidbits is the world’s leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 45,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here.
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Top Tech Tidbits News Team 🗞️
Distribution: Sponsors, Supporters, Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Distribution Since: 2004
As of June 4, 2020 the distribution of Top Tech Tidbits is made possible by our Sponsors, our Supporters, our Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced marketing administration and consultation services.
Any time the Top Tech Tidbits Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.
Please help us to support the ongoing distribution of this publication. Learn more about the benefits of Sponsorship today.
Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi
Publisher Since: June 4, 2020
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)
In addition to serving as Publisher for Top Tech Tidbits Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Access Information News and AI-Weekly newsletters, PR-Director for the AT-Newswire Press Release News Distribution Service, and President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Top Tech Tidbits on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Aaron Di Blasi, PMP
Email: publisher@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
Toll Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️
PR Director (2024-Present)
AT-Newswire 🌐
Access Technology’s Digital Newswire
Publisher (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week’s News in Artificial Intelligence
Publisher (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information
Publisher (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 – Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
Certified:
Digital Marketing Associate
Meta Certified (2022 – Present)
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Hootsuite Certified (2020 – Present)
Email Marketing Professional
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Specializing in:
Digital Strategy and Content Marketing
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ADA, WCAG and Section 508 Compliance
Editor: John Hanlin
Editor Since: June 4, 2020
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits John also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News and AI-Weekly newsletters and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for persons who are blind or low-vision.
John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
John Hanlin, Esq.
Editor (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week’s News in Artificial Intelligence
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Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information
Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Board of Trustees (2006 – Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
Editor: Jenna Lang
Editor Since: June 4, 2020
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News and AI-Weekly newsletters and runs her own advocacy foundation.
Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.
Jenna’s son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.
Jenna Lang, PMP
Editor (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week’s News in Artificial Intelligence
Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information
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Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.
Editor (2020-Present)
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Editor: Stephen (Alex) Marositz
Editor Since: October 7, 2021
Location: Los Angeles, California
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits Alex is also the Accessible Technology Coordinator for California State University, Dominguez Hills. He has worked in accessibility in higher education since 2005, is certified by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and in his spare time plays for the San Gabriel Valley Panthers Beep Baseball Team. He can be reached on twitter at: @samarositz.
Stephen (Alex) Marositz
Editor (2021-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Accessible Technology Coordinator
California State University, Dominguez Hills 🌐
Editor: Ben Moxey
Editor Since: January 1, 2022
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits Ben is also an Access and Technology Advisor for Guide Dogs, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT).
Hi, Tidbits readers, my name’s Ben Moxey and I’m based in Newcastle, Australia. I’m really happy to be part of the Tidbits Team and look forward to supporting this valuable publication.
A bit about me and how I came to work in the BVI area. I grew up with very low vision in one eye due to retinal issues and relied on magnification and speech throughout school. They also tried to teach me Braille, but let’s just say that I wasn’t the best student! I was determined to use my remaining vision, no matter how impractical it was becoming.
When I was 20, the other retina came off and I’ve now been totally blind for about 21 years. This is when my love for assistive technology, and technology in general, really kicked in. I’ll be honest, I was a bit of a computer nerd anyway, but I could quickly see how technology was my key to enhanced independence and lifestyle. I embraced screen readers, early smart phones and mobility aids. I even finally realised the huge value of Braille and finished off the course, though I’m still pretty slow!
Long story short (not one of my strong points), I’ve worked in the BVI area for 12 years with much of that spent reviewing, recommending and teaching assistive technology that suits the individual. I’m currently a proud employee of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT where I was the Practice Lead for the assistive technology service, and I’ve now moved into an Access and Technology Advisor role. Basically, this involves a strong focus on accessibility and technology innovation.
Feel free to look me up on LinkedIn, but I’ll warn you in advance that I haven’t given my profile the recommended attention!
All the best and happy reading!
Ben Moxey
Editor (2022-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Access and Technology Advisor
Guide Dogs, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT) 🌐
Editor: David Woodbridge
Editor Since: February 6, 2023
Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10)
In addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits David also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News publication and is also the National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor for Vision Australia where he has worked since 1990. Over this time he has assisted people who are blind or vision impaired in their home, education, and work settings to take advantage of the benefits of using assistive and main stream technology.
In the last seventeen years, he has also been involved with evaluating technology for use by people who are blind or vision impaired covering both low and high tech equipment (including Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and Apple). David is also one of the key spokespersons for Vision Australia relating to technology.
He has been an Apple Ambassador for Apple Australia since 2009 with a group of other Ambassadors / Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE)‘s covering the range of Apple’s Accessibility solutions throughout Australia.
David produces a range of podcasts (since 2011) covering Apple and other technologies which are distributed on his own podcast (http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com). In addition, he also has a regular Talking Tech program (since 2013) which can be heard every Tuesday at 4:30 Eastern Summer Time on Vision Australia Radio Melbourne (available online) or via https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
David also runs a weekly Tech Monday where people can chat about assistive and main stream technology, share information, and any tips and tricks.
David lost his sight when he was 8 years old and had to learn Braille. Since then, he completed high school, went to Sydney University receiving a Social Work degree, spent 4 years drug and alcohol counselling, and then moved into his current job.
As a person who is blind, David believes that as a user of the technology that he recommends to others, that he is well situated to look at the strengths and shortcomings of the assistive technology that he comes across in both his professional and personal life, in particular, mainstream technology that is accessible.
In addition to his weekly contributions to Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News, David’s regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions.
David Woodbridge
X (Formerly Twitter): @dwoodbridge
Mastodon: woody@dragonscave.space
iSee Podcast: https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com
Vision Australia Radio Talking Tech: https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio
Editor (2023-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Editor (2023-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information
National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor
(1990 – Present)
Vision Australia 🌐
Live the life you choose. We’re here to support all Australians who are blind or have low vision.
Editor: Vicki Walton
Editor Since: January 9, 2026
Location: Benton City, WA
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)
IIn addition to serving as an Editor to Top Tech Tidbits Vicki also serves as an Editor to the Access Information News publication and works as a Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Vicki Walton
Editor (2024-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Editor (2024-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information
Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges 🌐
Better Jobs, Brighter Futures, a Stronger Washington
Editor: Dr. Kirk Adams
Editor Since: June 8, 2025
Location: Seattle, WA
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-6/GMT-7)
Dr. Kirk Adams
Editor (2025-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology
Dr. Kirk Adams, Ph.D. 🌐
Advocate, Leader and Keynote Speaker on Disability Inclusion & Leadership
Leading the Way to Accessible Innovation
Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion (ISDI) 🌐
Executive Director
Strengthening individual and organizational capability for creating diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Innovative Impact, LLC Consulting 🌐
Managing Director
Impactful Workforce Inclusion Starts Here
American Foundation for the Blind 🌐
Immediate Past President & CEO
To create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired.
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ABOUT ♿️
Founded in 2004, Top Tech Tidbits is the world’s leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 45,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators, and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week, along with the caregivers, companies and organizations that serve and support them. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here. Access Technology broadly encompasses technologies that enable access to information and communication systems for persons with disabilities. Adaptive Technology is a subset of Access Technology designed to assist individuals in performing tasks that might otherwise be challenging due to their particular disabilities. Assistive Technology includes any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around their challenges. Top Tech Tidbits is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang, Stephen (Alex) Marositz, Ben Moxey, David Woodbridge, Vicki Walton, Sarah Massengale and Dr. Kirk Adams. Top Tech Tidbits is a sponsor, reader and advertiser supported publication.
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