Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Volume 1088

Is AI Dictation Better Than Built-In Text To Speech? KOEDESK Demo – FIFINE K688 Microphone | The Blind Life | YouTube.com | October 3, 2026

Showcasing KOEDESK, Sam walks viewers through an AI dictation workflow and compares it with the built-in speech-to-text tools found on computers and mobile devices. The demonstration also considers everyday writing, productivity, and accessibility implications for blind or visually impaired users, alongside the sponsored FIFINE K688 microphone and BM88 boom arm.

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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week 📊️

A.) What’s New in the September Build of JAWS 2026 | FreedomScientific.com | September 30, 2026

The September 2026 update to JAWS 2026 improves heading navigation and focus stability on Facebook and Reddit, adds Vocalizer Expressive settings to Cloud Settings sync, and fixes issues in Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint math content, and web navigation. Braille changes include a new keymap for the Mantis Q40 and panning support in the new Windows 11 Notepad.

B.) How Slack Built Simplified Layout Mode for Accessibility | Equal Entry | September 29, 2026

Equal Entry summarizes an Accessibility New York City talk in which Slack engineers explain how they built Simplified Layout Mode, a single-column view with larger targets and no hover-only menus. Testing with eye-tracking, head-mouse, screen reader, and neurodivergent users shaped features such as persistent message actions, separate zoom levels, and a breadcrumb bar.

C.) Feedback: Luna Glasses For Night Blindness, Claude Code Tips And Bricks For The Blind | Double Tap | YouTube.com | September 29, 2026

In this insightful breakdown, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece examine the accessibility tools and community experiences reshaping everyday life for blind and partially sighted people. The discussion ranges from Luna glasses helping a listener’s wife navigate darkness after decades with RP to tactile LEGO instructions, practical Claude Code lessons, and the launch of Double Tap Live’s round-the-clock audio channel.

D.) How to Try Out AI Glasses From Meta at Your Local Best Buy | CNET.com | September 29, 2026

A sponsored CNET piece produced for Best Buy explains that more than 40 Best Buy stores now host a Meta Lab where shoppers can try Meta’s AI glasses and Quest headsets, get fitted, and receive setup help from on-site specialists. It also mentions the glasses’ Be My Eyes integration for blind and low vision users.

E.) An Overview Of InDesign Accessibility With Colleen Gratzer | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | September 28, 2026

Showcasing accessible InDesign workflows, The Accessibility Guy speaks with Colleen Gratzer about building cleaner source documents before export. The discussion covers paragraph and heading styles, spotting overrides, separating structure tags from PDF accessibility tags, and avoiding line breaks that can create duplicate tags.

October 8, 2026 📅️

2.) JAWS Power Tip: How To Quickly Access Your Windows Desktop with JAWS | Freedom Scientific via TopTechTidbits.com | October 8, 2026

When you have many applications open, it can be difficult to quickly access your desktop to open a file, shortcut, or folder. WINDOWS+D is a Windows hotkey that instantly hides all open windows and shows the desktop, making it easy to get to what you need without closing anything. This is a fast way to clear your workspace and stay organized.

October 7, 2026 📅️

3.) Image Description Toolkit 4.8: Image Descriptions From Windows AI on Copilot+ PCs | TheIdeaPlace.net | October 7, 2026

Version 4.8 of the open-source Image Description Toolkit can now use the AI hardware in Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 24H2 or later to describe images on the device, with no upload, account, API key or cost. The toolkit has supported Apple Intelligence on the Mac since version 4.6.

4.) Gemini Guided Vision Tested, Siri Frustrations And Android Help From Listeners | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 7, 2026

Showcasing Gemini Guided Vision, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece put Google’s new camera assistance through practical tests, from locating a desk mug to finding controls on a RODECaster touchscreen. Listener mail broadens the discussion to Siri’s lingering iOS problems, AI privacy and content restrictions, plus the settings and assistive tools shaping Android use for blind and low-vision users.

5.) Focus Mode In Genio Notes | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | October 7, 2026

Showcasing Focus Mode in Genio Notes, The Accessibility Guy walks viewers through a streamlined workflow for recording events while capturing key information. The guide demonstrates how headings, questions, tasks, and supporting details can be logged at the moment they matter without repeatedly navigating the full notes interface.

6.) Podcast: Eyes on Success Episode 2640: Seeing With Sound Using vOICe | October 7, 2026

Sound can transform how visually impaired people perceive the world around them. Technology called the vOICe converts camera views into distinct audio signals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with creator Peter Meijer and experienced users Pranav Lal and Jacob Kruger about how the vOICe can be used to assist blind users with tasks and navigation.

October 6, 2026 📅️

7.) An Update From Envision: All We Had, as Far as We Could | LetsEnvision.com | October 6, 2026

Envision’s founders explain that unless a partner is found to carry the company forward, active development of its apps and glasses will stop on December 31, 2026. A final update will move as many features as possible offline and stay free, online features will wind down with advance notice, and active subscriptions will be canceled before then.

8.) NVDA 2026.3beta4 Available for Testing | NVAccess.org | October 6, 2026

NV Access has released NVDA 2026.3 beta 4, which follows the September 30 beta 3 with translation updates and a fix for Add-on Store lag when searching in Chinese characters. The 2026.3 release brings performance improvements, easier-to-use dialogs, expanded touch screen gestures, and OCR that works while Screen Curtain or the Magnifier is active.

9.) Ray-Ban Meta Version 129 Is Now Available | Meta.com | October 6, 2026

Firmware version 129 for Ray-Ban Meta glasses adds Mono Audio and an Audio Balance control under accessibility settings. It follows version 128, which brought spatial audio, Mandarin Chinese support and turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and select cities.

10.) Event Ticket Website Accessibility: At the Event | UsableNet.com | October 6, 2026

In the latest part of UsableNet’s series on event accessibility, screen reader user Michael Taylor describes the barriers met inside the venue: image-based PDF tickets, a concert program made from scans, and an in-seat ordering app with an inaccessible seat map and silent order updates.

11.) Recruiting Participants for Study: Reading Equations With Low Vision | Veroniiiica.com | October 6, 2026

Veronica Lewis, a doctoral student at George Mason University, is recruiting adults with low vision for an unpaid study, held over Zoom, on reading statistics equations shown in different screen formats. Participation runs about six weeks in October and November 2026 and includes 20 short reading sessions and two interviews.

12.) A Tribute To Brett Halle And What Envision’s News Means For Users | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 6, 2026

Following Envision’s announcement that it may wind down, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece assess the consequences for blind and low-vision users, Ally Solos owners, and the broader smart-glasses market. They examine the December 31, 2026 development deadline, unresolved warranty concerns, calls to open-source key tools, and pay tribute to Apple engineer Brett Halle.

October 5, 2026 📅️

13.) I Never Thought I Would Say This, but I’m Going Back to Claude | Taylor Arndt | October 5, 2026

Taylor Arndt explains a move from OpenAI’s Codex back to Claude Code after Codex added files that broke an app and left a log capture filling 600 GB of disk, alongside new OpenAI plan pricing and reduced limits. The post also covers Claude Code’s screen reader mode and two open-source tools, Claude Watch and a skill collection.

14.) Lumin Adds Outlook Support And Audio Reminders, With Sriram Ganesh | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 5, 2026

Showcasing Lumin’s new Outlook integration and audio reminders, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece put founder Sriram Ganesh through a live, voice-driven inbox workflow. Listener calls broaden the conversation to bulk email management, Office 365 connections, AI-assisted development, future pricing, calendar support, translations, and the challenge of competing with major voice assistants.

15.) How To Edit A Transcript In DocAccess Using Workbench | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | October 5, 2026

Showcasing DocAccess Workbench, The Accessibility Guy walks viewers through refining an accessible HTML transcript generated from a complex PDF. The demonstration covers instant remediation, manual document review, and chat-based corrections for issues the platform flags.

16.) Ep 20 – Darryl Adams, Founder Of Access Insights | Accessibility and Gen AI | YouTube.com | October 5, 2026

Conversing with Darryl Adams, Eamon McErlean and Joe Devon examine how his experience with vision loss and single-sided deafness has shaped his view of accessible technology and AI-driven interfaces. Adams also outlines how Access Insights uses co-design and research to help disability-focused products move from promising concepts to scalable market offerings.

October 4, 2026 📅️

17.) Fastplay Now Available as a Test Build for iOS | Fastplay | October 4, 2026

Fastplay, an accessible and flexible media player already available on Windows, is now open for public testing on iPhone through Apple’s TestFlight.

18.) BlindShell Classic Phones Now Include a Three-Year Warranty | TalkingMP3Players.com | October 4, 2026

BlindShell Classic 2 and Classic 3 phones, accessible talking phones with tactile keypads and spoken menus, now come with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty when ordered from Accessible Electronics. The Classic 2 is $649, and the Classic 3, which adds Luna AI, Tandem remote assistance and Observo image description, is $790.

19.) Freight Fate 1.9.0 Is Out: An Accessible Audio Trucking Game | Freight Fate | October 4, 2026

Freight Fate 1.9.0, a free audio trucking game for blind and visually impaired players on Windows, Apple Silicon Macs and Linux, has been rebuilt with 100 new cities, real streets and highway lanes, GPS warnings, driving assists, inspections and thousands of real radio stations. Careers from version 1.8 do not carry over.

October 3, 2026 📅️

20.) Blind Vibe Coding: Building Apps Nonvisually With AI | Jamal Mazrui | October 3, 2026

Jamal Mazrui has published a book for blind and low vision screen reader users who want to build their own apps with an AI assistant, with no programming background required. Sixteen hands-on tutorials move from a talking timer to Windows programs, NVDA add-ons, browser extensions and phone apps, and the edition is free of copy protection, so an EPUB copy can also be downloaded.

21.) Accessible STEM Using MathCAT | Daisy.org | October 3, 2026

The DAISY Consortium has launched its MathCAT Initiative to secure the long-term future of the open-source library that delivers math in speech and braille through screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA and Orca, reading apps and production tools. The consortium is inviting developers, producers, publishers and blindness organizations to contribute code, translations, braille code expertise and funding.

22.) Introducing R maidr: Explore ggplot2 and Base R Plots With Sound, Text, and Braille | R maidr | October 3, 2026

R maidr, an open-source package now at version 0.5.0 on CRAN, turns ggplot2 and base R plots into interactive versions that blind and low vision users can explore point by point with the keyboard, hearing values as speech or tones and reading them in braille, including on a Dot Pad. It comes from the (x)Ability Design Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

23.) New Application: Accessible Signature Capture | Accessible Signature Capture | October 3, 2026

Accessible Signature Capture is a free web tool for drawing a signature without sight: users can explore the signing area first, then turn capture on and off with the Space bar from a touchpad, touchscreen or stylus. Signatures stay on the device and can be saved as cropped PNG, JPG or GIF images.

24.) PaperBack 1.0 Has Been Released: A Multi-Platform Document and eBook Reader | Paperback | October 3, 2026

Paperback 1.0, a fast, accessible ebook and document reader, is out for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, adding OCR for scanned PDFs, MathML rendered through MathCAT, audiobooks split into chapters, comic book archives and more formats. The desktop versions are free, and the mobile apps are a one-time $19.99 per platform.

25.) RSSQuick in More Places | TheIdeaPlace.net | October 3, 2026

RSSQuick 1.4, a simple open-source RSS reader, is now available for Windows through the Microsoft Store and for the Mac, with an iPhone and iPad version in public TestFlight testing. The update adds feed management, search across headlines and automatic updating.

26.) Request for Testers: NVDA Users to Try a Beta AliExpress Search Site | OneFindMe.com | October 3, 2026

OneFindMe, a free AliExpress search site designed around screen readers, is asking NVDA users to test its beta, which so far has mainly been tested with VoiceOver. Searches use plain words, each product reads as a single sentence, and a button gives an AI description of the photo; product links are affiliate links.

27.) ssi263-speech 0.7.5: Includes Voices for Braille Lite, Speak-Out, Windows and Linux, Also NVDA Add-ons | SSI-263 Speech | October 3, 2026

Version 0.7.5 of ssi263-speech brings the voices of the Braille Lite, Speak-Out, Accent-mini and Accent SA to NVDA, SAPI, Linux and Android from one native library. The project also includes an emulator that runs the Braille Lite, Type ‘n Speak and Braille ‘n Speak on Windows and Linux, where pressing F11 opens the emulator’s menus, including the option to exit.

28.) Recording of NASA’s First Virtual Event Targeted for the Blind and Low Vision Community | Christine Malec | October 3, 2026

A recording is now available of NASA’s first virtual event aimed at the blind and low vision community, a two-hour presentation on the SLS rocket tests behind the Artemis spacecraft. It includes previously unheard audio of astronauts on the far side of the moon, an audio-described launch and a panel on space, astronomy and accessibility.

29.) Is AI Dictation Better Than Built-In Text To Speech? KOEDESK Demo – FIFINE K688 Microphone | The Blind Life | YouTube.com | October 3, 2026

Showcasing KOEDESK, Sam walks viewers through an AI dictation workflow and compares it with the built-in speech-to-text tools found on computers and mobile devices. The demonstration also considers everyday writing, productivity, and accessibility implications for blind or visually impaired users, alongside the sponsored FIFINE K688 microphone and BM88 boom arm.

30.) Sonos Announcements: A Free, VoiceOver-Accessible App for Sending Spoken Messages to Your Sonos Speakers | App Store | October 3, 2026

Sonos Announcements is a free app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, made by a blind developer who uses VoiceOver, that plays spoken messages on Sonos speakers in the sender’s own voice. Users pick the speakers, hold a button while talking and let go; music dips during the message and then returns. It needs no account, cloud service or subscription, and includes Shortcuts actions for automations.

October 2, 2026 📅️

31.) 100+ Years of Student Radio History in the DLARC College Radio Collections | Archive.org | October 2, 2026

For College Radio Day, the Internet Archive highlights new additions to its Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications, including early radio club records from Dartmouth and the Milwaukee School of Engineering and station archives from Duke, Amherst, Middlebury and William & Mary reaching back to the 1920s.

32.) AI Smart Glasses Improve Accessibility | DasAt.com.au | October 2, 2026

DASAT traces the path from OrCam MyEye and Envision’s glasses to Meta Ray-Ban glasses and looks at how blind, low vision and other disabled users are adapting mainstream smart glasses for greater independence. The piece also weighs the privacy and cybersecurity questions raised by cameras and microphones worn on the face.

33.) Audible Launches Character Guide, Interactive Stories, and Visual Explore | GoodEReader.com | October 2, 2026

Good e-Reader reports that Audible is testing three AI-powered features in a limited beta for U.S. and UK customers: Character Guide shows who is speaking, Interactive Stories lets listeners talk with characters in real time, and Visual Explorer surfaces maps and imagery from a story’s world.

34.) CCATP #842: Adam Engst on Broken Wrist and Voice Control | Podfeet.com | October 2, 2026

On this episode of Chit Chat Across the Pond, TidBITS publisher Adam Engst describes how iOS 27 dictation and macOS Voice Control kept the writing going after a broken wrist and a badly sprained hand, and why the two dictation systems still behave differently. An auto-generated transcript is available.

35.) Echo Vision Glasses: An Honest Review | Michael Babcock | October 2, 2026

Michael Babcock reviews Agiga’s Echo Vision smart glasses for blind and low vision users, calling their document reading the most accurate tested and praising the spoken coaching for positioning a page. The review also flags a confusing multi-press action button, loud beeps, battery drain in the case, and a subscription on top of the $599 price.

36.) I Got Tired of Babysitting Log Capture, So I Turned My Mac Into an MCP | Taylor Arndt | October 2, 2026

Taylor Arndt explains building Mac Bridge, a connector that lets ChatGPT start and stop log captures on a Mac or iPhone and attach trimmed logs to bug reports, limited to a fixed set of tools for safety. The post includes a plain-language introduction to the Model Context Protocol and how the setup was secured.

37.) Samsung Galaxy Glasses Are Coming Sooner Than You Might Think | AndroidCentral.com | October 2, 2026

Android Central reports that Samsung’s first Android XR Galaxy Glasses are expected to launch in November with a camera, speakers, microphones and Gemini integration, and with designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Pricing has not been announced.

38.) Using JAWS With Dot Pad: PowerPoint and Split Braille | Dot Inc. | October 2, 2026

Dot Inc. shares a recorded webinar with Elizabeth Whitaker of Vispero showing how JAWS works with the Dot Pad multiline braille display in Microsoft PowerPoint, and how JAWS Split Braille can show different braille views at the same time.

39.) Why Your E-Reader Sells a Different Bookstore in Every Country | GoodEReader.com | October 2, 2026

Good e-Reader explains how territorial publishing rights, account country settings and IP location decide which ebooks Kindle, Kobo and Libby will sell or lend, why the EU geo-blocking rules exempt ebooks, and what to check before assuming a catalog is broken.

40.) NVDA Bugs, Siri AI Frustrations And Your Emails On Mastodon And LiDAR | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 2, 2026

Cutting through the hype around mobile AI assistants, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece examine Siri’s shortcomings, Gemini’s shifting capabilities, and persistent NVDA audio bugs. Listener feedback also drives a practical discussion of LiDAR, Mastodon’s reply dynamics, Meta Ray-Ban glasses, and the accessibility trade-offs involved in moving between iPhone and Android.

October 1, 2026 📅️

41.) AppleVis Unlimited: What’s New and Noteworthy for September 2026 | AppleVis.com | October 1, 2026

The September 2026 edition of AppleVis’s monthly digest rounds up new and updated accessible apps, coverage of iOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate for blind and low vision users, recent podcast episodes, updated beginner guides and the month’s most popular forum topics.

42.) Audio Description Links – September 2026 | Vivid Language | October 1, 2026

The September 2026 edition of Vivid Language’s monthly audio description roundup gathers podcast episodes on quality control and the history of the craft, articles on describing horror films and on UK and US description styles, RNIB research on audio for television, and examples of audio-described introductions.

43.) Backtalk: A Fork of TalkBack on Android | GitHub.com | October 1, 2026

Backtalk is an unofficial, open-source fork of Google’s TalkBack screen reader for Android that focuses on speed, brings back features such as the circle menu, and adds new gestures, a status readout and direct touch for audio games. It installs alongside TalkBack with its own settings and updates itself from development builds.

44.) Be My Eyes and Amtrak Expand Live Visual Support to 151 Stations Nationwide | BeMyEyes.com | October 1, 2026

As of October 1, 2026, Amtrak passengers can reach a trained visual interpreter through the free Be My Eyes app at 151 stations across the U.S., up from a 16-station pilot in August 2025. Interpreters can help with departure boards, track changes, platforms, ticket counters and amenities without advance booking.

45.) Color Contrast Checker for NVDA | GitHub.com | October 1, 2026

Color Contrast Checker for NVDA is a free add-on that lets blind accessibility testers hear WCAG contrast ratios for focused text, the review cursor and focus indicators, or scan a whole page into a report grouped by WCAG thresholds. It runs entirely on the computer and is available from the NVDA Add-on Store and GitHub.

46.) Connect Alt 2.0 Is Here: One-Stop Hub for Blind and Low Vision Events | Connect Alt | October 1, 2026

Connect Alt, a hub for finding blind and low vision events online and nearby, has added an AI helper that takes typed or spoken requests, personalized recommendations for events, programs and organizations, and a Community Board for jobs, social opportunities and items for sale.

47.) DoorDash Is Making Ordering Food Easier by Just Texting Its AI | CordCuttersNews.com | October 1, 2026

DoorDash has opened a U.S. beta waitlist for ordering food by text message, where its Ask DoorDash assistant builds a cart from a described dish, craving or usual order and completes checkout in the same conversation without opening the app. The company also added faster grocery restocking tools inside the app.

48.) For Mastodon Users: Quin Releases Fedra 0.7.0 | Fedra | October 1, 2026

Version 0.7.0 of Fedra, a fast, native Mastodon client built for screen reader users, adds a macOS version alongside Windows, an invisible interface of global shortcuts, message requests, permanent timelines, user aliases, inline autocomplete and per-timeline notification sounds.

49.) Introducing Nora in the Bookshare Reader App: A New Voice for Your Books | Bookshare | October 1, 2026

Bookshare has added Nora, a natural-sounding voice, to its Bookshare Reader app for iOS and Android. Readers can choose it in Settings under Audio and Voice, in the new Natural Voices section.

50.) Seeking Pilot Participants and Partners for Nexy: An AI Voice Assistant | Nexy | October 1, 2026

The founder of Nexy, an AI voice assistant designed to work alongside existing assistive technology on computer-based workplace tasks, is seeking blind and low vision participants and partner organizations for a pilot. Two to five participants would complete tasks such as email, scheduling and records updates with and without Nexy and give feedback.

51.) Best Web Accessibility Opportunities in October 2026 | A11y Explained | October 1, 2026

The sixth edition of A11y Explained’s monthly opportunities newsletter lists accessibility-focused events, jobs and public tenders, including the M-Enabling Summit in Arlington, Virginia, a senior UX designer role in digital accessibility in Sweden, and a University of Tours digital library tender due October 19.

52.) Ten Years of the Marrakesh Treaty: Turning Access Into Action | Accessible Books Consortium | October 1, 2026

The Accessible Books Consortium marks ten years since the WIPO-administered Marrakesh Treaty entered into force. The treaty has grown from 20 to 106 contracting parties, and the ABC Global Book Service now shares more than 1.2 million accessible titles.

53.) Quarterly Connections: Fall 2026 News From the NRTC | NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision | October 1, 2026

The fall newsletter from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision introduces research-based assistive technology resources for the workplace, a study defining the core technology skills screen reader users need for employment, new continuing education courses, a resume toolkit, and a Q&A with AFB’s Arielle Silverman.

54.) Is AI Deskilling Accessibility Work? | Equal Entry | October 1, 2026

In an A11yInsights episode, Thomas Logan of Equal Entry and Ken Nakata of Converge Accessibility discuss whether relying on AI for the first pass of accessibility audits erodes testers’ skills, why the field needs agreed pass and fail examples, and how to keep expert human review in AI remediation workflows.

55.) Meta Ray-Ban Display Hands-On, Lumin Updates And The Double Tap App | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 1, 2026

Cutting through the hype around Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece examine how their screen reader, Neural Band gestures, WhatsApp, and Maps perform in daily use for blind people. They also assess the remaining accessibility gaps, cover Lumin’s Outlook plans and iOS 27 VoiceOver issues, and share an update on the forthcoming Double Tap app.

56.) A New CAT Website, New Tech & Other Good Stuff | MailChi.mp | October 1, 2026

Canadian Assistive Technology has launched a redesigned website and expanded its catalog with APH, Reach & Match, Enabling Devices, EazyHold and the Dot Pad X. Its October newsletter also tracks updates including BrailleSense 6 firmware 3.2, Victor Reader Stream 3 version 1.7, SuperNova 25.04, Prodigi for Windows 1.7, Duxbury DBT 15.1 and Monarch 2.0.

57.) Blind Vibe Coding | JamalMazrui.github.io | October 1, 2026

Jamal Mazrui has assembled a 46-resource directory for blind and low-vision people building apps with AI and screen readers. It separates evidence that coding tools are usable with screen readers from evidence that AI-generated apps are accessible, and stresses tests, logs, scans, and real nonvisual use over an AI’s assurances.

Last Week 📅️

58.) From My Hopes to Reality: Teaching Start Speaking to Read Beyond Books | Becky K | September 30, 2026

Becky K describes using Codex to teach the iOS reading app Start Speaking to open EPUB, DAISY, Word, HTML, code and PDF files, including relaying Word tables in a form a listener can follow and recognizing text in scanned and image-based PDFs.

59.) GitHub Repository Landing Pages Now Show an Accessibility Tab, if Provided | EricWBailey.website | September 30, 2026

GitHub now displays a repository’s ACCESSIBILITY.md file in its own tab on the landing page, alongside the README, license and code of conduct. Eric Bailey, who wrote the code, explains how the optional file can carry a project’s accessibility statement.

60.) Scanned PDF Has Garbled Text? How to Fix Bad OCR Automatically | SpeechCentral.net | September 30, 2026

Speech Central explains why a scanned PDF can carry an unreadable OCR text layer that trips up text-to-speech, and how its iOS and macOS apps detect garbled text and run OCR again on the page images, on the device, using Apple’s Vision technology.

61.) Helen Keller Services Announces 2026 AccessAbility Award Recipients, Honoring Five Organizations Advancing Accessibility | HelenKeller.org | September 30, 2026

Helen Keller Services has named Canon U.S.A., Dot Inc., the Michigan Road Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library, OXO and Rylo as its 2026 AccessAbility Award recipients, recognizing tactile printing, multiline braille, inclusive employment, universal design and communication access. The awards will be presented on October 9 in Sands Point, New York.

62.) How to Record Your Computer Screen With Built-In Tools | Veroniiiica.com | September 29, 2026

Veronica Lewis walks through recording the screen with the built-in tools on Windows 11, macOS, ChromeOS, iPhone, iPad and Android, and explains which accessibility settings, such as magnification and inverted colors, do and do not appear in the recordings.

63.) To Learn Life Skills, Some With Autism Turn to Virtual Reality | DisabilityScoop.com | September 29, 2026

Floreo’s virtual-reality lessons let autistic users rehearse tasks including grocery storage, street crossing, police interactions, bullying and online safety while a coach monitors progress and adjusts prompts in real time. The company is pursuing FDA investigational-device approval for FloreoRX, a 12-week social-skills program; its 125-patient trial reported greater improvement than a sham control.

👉 Submit your event for consideration within this section here.

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October 7-13, 2026 | Brailled It: Free At-Home Movie Viewing | Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled

The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, the Friends of Maryland LBPD and Artifact Studios offer free at-home viewing of Brailled It, the documentary in which blind and low-vision competitors at the Braille Challenge film the event themselves. The film is designed with audio description at its core, and viewers can follow it in real time in braille through the All4Access app. Viewing runs October 7 through 13, ahead of the national filmmaker discussion on October 13. Free; registration opens October 7 and is required.

October 8, 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
Vision Support America explores the different ways of keeping reading in your life as vision changes, in whatever format works best now. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

October 8, 2026 | Many Faces of BARD: Advanced Navigation on BARD Mobile | NLS BARD

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled’s Many Faces of BARD program covers advanced navigation in BARD Mobile, followed by an open question-and-answer session on all things BARD. The one-hour session on ZoomGov will be recorded.

October 8, 2026 | Brailled It at the Broadway Theater | Salt Lake Film Society

6:00 PM PT, 7:00 PM MT, 8:00 PM CT, 9:00 PM ET, 1:00 AM GMT
The Salt Lake Film Society screens Brailled It at the Broadway Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. The documentary puts the cameras in the hands of blind and low-vision students competing at the Braille Challenge in Los Angeles, and it was designed with audio description and binaural sound at its core. Ticketed in-person event.

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 9, 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
Vision Support America hosts a supportive conversation on simple ways to organize and label a home so that it feels easier, calmer and more predictable to move around. The session is free and aimed at people adjusting to changing vision.

October 12, 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 the accessibility settings built into Android phones, working through small changes that build confidence one step at a time. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision who want their phone to be easier to use.

October 13, 2026 | Patron Corner: Celebrating 20 Years of BARD, Part Two | NLS

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
The NLS Patron Engagement Section hosts a Patron Corner on Zoom featuring NLS staff and patrons who took part in the 2006 BARD beta test and were among its first users, with time for audience members to share what BARD has meant to them. The session will be recorded.

October 13, 2026 | Brailled It: National Discussion | Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled hosts a live, moderated national discussion of Brailled It with the Friends of Maryland LBPD, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Hadley and Artifact Studios. Filmmakers David Grabias and Christopher Morgan and Impact Producer Conchita Hernandez Legorreta explore the film’s themes, the importance of braille literacy and the impact of programs like the Braille Challenge. Online; registration is required, and the event link is sent by email.

October 13, 2026 | Teaching and Typing Math | BITS

5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
The BITS Education Team presents Teaching and Typing Math, a Tuesday evening course led by Professor Betsey Doane with Rebecca Skipper for assistive technology instructors and others who work with math. It covers navigating math in Word and on the web, Nemeth braille in the JAWS Braille Math Editor, math input by speech, and graphing with Desmos, and registrants must check each course date when signing up.

October 14, 2026 | ONYX Family of Magnifiers: Finding the Right Fit for Work, School, and Home | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Ian Ramos from Access Ingenuity and Joe McDaniel from Vispero walk through the three ONYX video magnifiers, including the ONYX Deskset and ONYX OCR, and help attendees work out which model fits their needs at school, work, or home. Everyone is welcome, and ACVREP continuing education credit is approved for teachers of the visually impaired.

October 14, 2026 | 6th Annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month Webinar | Helen Keller National Center and Helen Keller Services for the Blind

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Helen Keller National Center and Helen Keller Services for the Blind mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month under the Department of Labor’s 2026 theme, Celebrating Value and Talent, with a new format built on spotlight conversations – focused 10 to 15 minute sessions with each panelist covering their professional story, the current state of employment for people with disabilities, and where the field is headed. Panelists are Dina Grilo, deputy head of the Office of Disability Affairs at JPMorganChase; Kirk Adams, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion; Kathy West-Evans of Abilities United Consulting; and Michael MacKillop, executive director of the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind. The webinar closes with live audience Q&A. Free; ASL interpretation, spoken English interpretation, live captions, audio description, accessible presentation materials and transcripts are provided, with additional accommodation requests to Jennifer Falls at jfalls@helenkeller.org by October 1, 2026.

October 14, 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
This free Vision Support America session is a supportive conversation about working in the kitchen with changing vision, taking small practical steps toward feeling confident there again.

October 15, 2026 | Beyond the Basics: Navigate, Review, and Present More Effectively in PowerPoint Using JAWS | Vispero

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan of Vispero demonstrate practical strategies for working more efficiently in PowerPoint with JAWS, from navigating slides, placeholders, objects and the different PowerPoint views to adding alt text to images and videos so slide content is accessible. The session also covers reviewing object placement, reading order, graphics and other visual information, and moving through Slide Show view with practical tips for presenting more effectively. ACVREP credits are available to those who attend the live webinar.

October 15, 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
This free Vision Support America session covers simple techniques for moving safely and confidently around the home and beyond, with particular attention to stairs and to preventing falls. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 15, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America looks at moving through the world safely and confidently with changing vision, and at how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

October 16, 2026 | Recognizing Elder Abuse: Signs, Resources, and Next Steps | NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision

12:00 PM PT, 1:00 PM MT, 2:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Jennifer Spoeri, executive director of the National Adult Protective Services Association, explains how to recognize abuse, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect among older adults who are blind or have low vision, along with reporting responsibilities and available resources. One ACVREP credit is available.

October 19, 2026 | Virtual Birding With the Birdability Community on Instagram Live | Birdability

7:00 AM PT, 8:00 AM MT, 9:00 AM CT, 10:00 AM ET, 2:00 PM GMT
Birdability goes live on Instagram at @birdability every morning of Birdability Week, through October 25, for virtual birding from backyards, parks and favorite accessible birding spots around the country. The week opens with Tammah Watts and her Mindfulness Mondays, and later stops include backyard birding in North Carolina, Central Park with That Quirky Bird Girl, a field trip with ASL, Jenn Lodi-Smith of The Spark Bird Project, and Everybody Birding Club in Ohio. Stay for the whole program or drop in for a minute or two. Free.

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 | An Engine for Innovation and Opportunity | Disability:IN

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
Disability:IN hosts a LinkedIn Live conversation with disability-owned entrepreneurs Ryan Mayer of Ryan Mayer Coaching, Dr. Ann Nguyen-Chung of Hippotanicals and Mary Jayne McCullough of Global Wordsmiths. The panel covers understanding customers, communicating what makes a product different and building the relationships that help a business grow.

October 20, 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 covers practical ways to make a home easier to see and move through, using contrast, better lighting and reduced glare. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 20, 2026 | Navigating Performance Discussions and the Accommodation Process Effectively | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
This Job Accommodation Network training gives supervisors and managers practical strategies for handling performance conversations and for responding when a disability disclosure leads to a request for reasonable accommodation. It covers what to say and how to explore accommodation solutions collaboratively when performance is part of the picture. Real-time captioning is provided.

October 20, 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
Vision Support America walks step by step through the ways an iPhone can be adjusted to work better for changing eyesight, at a pace built to feel comfortable and doable. The session is free.

October 20, 2026 | Pathways to Disability Empowerment: Learn from the Success of Blind and DeafBlind Professionals | The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.

2:00 PM PT, 3:00 PM MT, 4:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. hosts a panel of blind and DeafBlind professionals who share how they found work, the accommodations they use to complete forms and attend meetings, and how they take part in everyday workplace life. Presenters are Eben Frisbie of Bank of America, author and retired human resources executive Sara Freeman Smith, and Paul DuCharme of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. The webinar is aimed at job seekers who are blind, low vision, DeafBlind, or blind with other disabilities, and attendees are invited to bring their own job search questions. Virtual (Zoom); ASL interpreters will be available.

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 20, 2026 | Teaching and Typing Math | BITS

5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
The BITS Education Team presents Teaching and Typing Math, a Tuesday evening course led by Professor Betsey Doane with Rebecca Skipper for assistive technology instructors and others who work with math. It covers navigating math in Word and on the web, Nemeth braille in the JAWS Braille Math Editor, math input by speech, and graphing with Desmos, and registrants must check each course date when signing up.

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 21, 2026 | Part 2 – Web Accessibility Basics: Manual Screen Reader Testing | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Michael Parker from Access Ingenuity completes his two-part series with a session on manual screen reader testing of websites using JAWS. Attendees learn to spot missing or incorrect landmarks, poorly labeled controls, inaccessible dynamic content, and weak alt text, and to document findings against specific WCAG criteria.

October 21, 2026 | Community Coalition In-Person Launch & Celebration | Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion

5:30 PM PT, 6:30 PM MT, 7:30 PM CT, 8:30 PM ET, 12:30 AM GMT
The Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion marks the launch of its Community Coalition for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion with an in-person evening at the Parkview Event Space at Seattle Unity, 200 8th Avenue North, Seattle. Attendees see a live demonstration of the Coalition’s new online home on Circle, with Apple and Android apps, meet local DEI practitioners, have new books by three ISDI leaders signed, and share a light meal with music. Founding Member sign-up at reduced, locked-in rates is open at the event and runs through December 31, 2026. Tickets are $75, $35 or a contribution of the buyer’s choosing; the venue offers accessible garage parking, a van-accessible loading zone, elevator access and wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and accommodation requests are due by October 1.

October 22, 2026 | Disability Innovation Forum | Enable Ventures & SmartJob

6:00 AM PT, 7:00 AM MT, 8:00 AM CT, 9:00 AM ET, 1:00 PM GMT
Enable Ventures and SmartJob host a full-day, in-person conference at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC, on disability-led innovation in work, learning, design and investing. Sessions include a showcase of ten early-stage companies, a keynote from bionic pop artist Viktoria Modesta, a fireside chat with Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz, and eight panels.

October 22, 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
Vision Support America explores the different ways of keeping reading in your life as vision changes, in whatever format works best now. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

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 | 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
Vision Support America hosts a supportive conversation on simple ways to organize and label a home so that it feels easier, calmer and more predictable to move around. The session is free and aimed at people adjusting to changing vision.

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 25, 2026 | FilmNorth and Artifact Studios Present Brailled It | FilmNorth

3:00 PM PT, 4:00 PM MT, 5:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM ET, 10:00 PM GMT
FilmNorth and Artifact Studios present Brailled It at FilmNorth, 2441 University Avenue West in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The evening opens with a filmmaking workshop for blind and low-vision students ages 16 to 25, followed at 6:30 PM Central by a screening of the film and a Q&A. Free; RSVP required.

October 26, 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 the accessibility settings built into Android phones, working through small changes that build confidence one step at a time. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision who want their phone to be easier to use.

October 27, 2026 | Creating Accessible Coursework: From Content to Classroom | Allyant

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Liz Franklin of Allyant and digital accessibility coordinator Pam Doran present a live webinar on accessibility requirements for educational materials, with a demonstration of CommonLook Edu, a customer’s approach to scaling accessible coursework, and tips on budgeting and collaboration. Attendees receive a free seven-day trial.

October 27, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

October 28, 2026 | JAWS Essentials: Navigating PowerPoint with JAWS | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Marisa Church from Access Ingenuity covers the core JAWS commands for PowerPoint, including moving between slides, reading slide content and speaker notes, and working with images, charts, and tables. The session also explains how a presentation’s structure affects what JAWS reads, in both editing mode and slideshow view.

October 28, 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
This free Vision Support America session is a supportive conversation about working in the kitchen with changing vision, taking small practical steps toward feeling confident there again.

October 29, 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
This free Vision Support America session covers simple techniques for moving safely and confidently around the home and beyond, with particular attention to stairs and to preventing falls. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 29, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America looks at moving through the world safely and confidently with changing vision, and at how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

November 5, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 6, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

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 17, 2026 | Carter Kits: Supporting Positive Interactions for Neurodivergent Patients During Emergency Encounters | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Carter Kits co-founder Justin Severs and training and grants manager Andie describe the sensory bags their organization supplies to first responders, emergency department staff and community partners for encounters with autistic and neurodivergent patients, where a lack of tools and training still produces worse health outcomes. Dr. Sam Wrobleski of the Michigan EMS for Children Program also explains how that partnership works and how others might build one in their own state. Real-time captioning is provided.

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.

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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

Editor (2022-Present)
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.

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Editor: Jenna Lang

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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

Project Management Professional (2022 – Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.

Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology

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Editor: Vicki Walton

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Editor Since: January 9, 2026

Location: Benton City, WA

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-8/GMT-7)

In 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

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Editor: Dr. Kirk Adams

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Editor Since: June 8, 2025

Location: Seattle, WA

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-8/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.

Subscription Information 📰️

ABOUT ♿️

Founded in 2004, Top Tech Tidbits is the world’s leading not-for-profit access technology publication that reaches over 49,000 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, Vicki Walton and Dr. Kirk Adams. Top Tech Tidbits is a sponsor, reader and advertiser supported publication.

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