Every year, Apple dedicates a full week to celebrating accessibility and inclusion, and this year is no exception. With Global Accessibility Awareness Day serving as the anchor, the company is rolling out a host of new features, content, and services designed to empower users of all abilities. From Fitness+ workouts adapted for wheelchair users to an expanded sign language service in Apple Stores, the announcements reaffirm Apple’s long-standing commitment to making technology accessible to everyone.
SignTime Expands to Canada
One of the most significant announcements is the expansion of SignTime to Canada on May 19. SignTime is an on-demand sign language interpretation service available in Apple Stores and through Apple Support. Customers can request an interpreter via American Sign Language (ASL) or, in Canada, Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) and American Sign Language. The service launched originally in the United States (ASL), the United Kingdom (British Sign Language), and France (French Sign Language). By extending it to Canada, Apple is making its retail experience more inclusive for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing customers. The service is available during store hours, connecting customers with a remote interpreter via video call on a provided device.
Live In-Store Sessions and Social Media Content
Throughout the week, Apple Stores around the world are hosting live sessions to demonstrate how to use accessibility features built into iPhone, iPad, and Mac. These sessions are free and open to all customers, with specialists showing features such as VoiceOver, Magnifier, Sound Recognition, and Switch Control. Additionally, Apple Support is sharing short how-to videos and tips on its social media channels, covering topics like customizing display settings, enabling subtitles, and using AssistiveTouch.
New Accessibility Assistant Shortcut for Mac and Apple Watch
Apple is also introducing a new Accessibility Assistant shortcut for the Shortcuts app on Mac and Apple Watch. This shortcut asks users a series of quick questions about their needs—such as whether they have difficulty reading small text, seeing colors, or pressing buttons—and then recommends the most relevant accessibility features. For example, it might suggest enabling Reduce Motion, increasing contrast, or setting up Voice Control. The shortcut is designed to simplify the discovery process, making it easier for users to tailor their devices without having to navigate through dozens of settings. It will be available as a downloadable shortcut on the Shortcuts Gallery.
Fitness+ Becomes More Inclusive for Wheelchair Users
Apple Fitness+ is receiving several updates to better serve users with physical disabilities. Trainer Bakari Williams, a well-known figure in the fitness community who is deaf, is using American Sign Language to introduce new accessibility features. One new addition is Audio Hints, which provides short descriptive verbal cues for blind or low-vision users. For example, during a yoga session, the hint might describe the position of the trainer’s hands or the direction of a stretch. More importantly, Apple is renaming two popular series: “Time to Walk” is becoming “Time to Walk or Push” and “Time to Run” is becoming “Time to Run or Push” to explicitly include wheelchair users. All Fitness+ workouts and meditations will now feature ASL interpretation in every video, and closed captioning is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. Trainers also demonstrate modifications for each exercise, allowing participants at different fitness levels—including those with limited mobility—to follow along safely.
Apple Maps Parks Access for All Guide
Apple Maps is launching a new guide called “Parks Access for All,” created in partnership with Gallaudet University, the world-renowned university for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing students. The guide highlights accessible features, programs, and services at national parks across the United States. Users can find information on wheelchair-accessible trails, sign language tours, audio-described exhibits, and assistive listening devices. The guide is part of Apple’s broader effort to make outdoor recreation inclusive. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, referenced this partnership during his commencement speech at Gallaudet University last week, emphasizing the importance of designing technology that serves everyone. Apple Maps is also highlighting businesses that prioritize the Deaf community, such as restaurants and shops with staff trained in ASL.
Apple Music’s ‘Saylist’ Playlists Focus on Sounds
On Apple Music, a new collection called “Saylist” has been curated—playlists that each focus on a single sound or phonetic exercise. For instance, one playlist might feature songs that emphasize vowel sounds, while another highlights consonants. Although the tool was initially designed for speech therapy practice and vocal training, it is available to all listeners as a unique way to experience music. Each Saylist includes a mix of popular and lesser-known tracks that showcase the designated sound, making it both educational and entertaining.
Apple TV+ and App Store Highlights
Apple TV+ is curating a special section featuring movies and TV shows that authentically represent people with disabilities. This includes acclaimed films like “CODA,” starring Marlee Matlin (Deaf actress), “Eternals” with Lauren Ridloff (Deaf actress), and “Introducing, Selma Blair,” which chronicles the actor’s journey with multiple sclerosis. Other titles include “The Reason I Jump,” a documentary about nonverbal autism, and “Becoming” with Michelle Obama, which includes accessible audio descriptions. The App Store is also featuring a collection of accessibility-friendly apps, along with developer stories about how they designed their products with inclusion in mind. Apple Books has a new collection of stories written by or about individuals with disabilities, and Apple Podcasts is spotlighting episodes that discuss assistive technology and accessibility breakthroughs.
Additional Accessibility Features Announced for 2022
Beyond this week’s celebrations, Apple recently previewed several new accessibility features coming later in the year with software updates. These include Door Detection, which uses the LiDAR scanner on iPhone and iPad to help blind or low-vision users locate doorways, read signs, and determine how to open a door; Live Captions, which automatically generates captions for any audio playing on the device, including FaceTime calls, streaming, and in-person conversations; and Apple Watch Mirroring, which allows users to control their Apple Watch with their iPhone, helping those with limited dexterity to navigate the watch’s interface. Other upcoming features include Buddy Controller, which lets two game controllers work as one, and Sound Recognition expansion to identify emergency sirens in addition to existing sounds like doorbells and crying babies. These updates continue Apple’s history of embedding accessibility into the core of its operating systems rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day was founded in 2012 and is observed on the third Thursday of May. Each year, technology companies, developers, and advocates host events and release new tools to raise awareness about digital access and inclusion. Apple has been a leader in this space, with features like VoiceOver—a gesture-based screen reader—debuting on the original iPhone in 2009. Today, Apple’s accessibility toolbox includes over 100 built-in features covering vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive needs. The company’s holistic approach—spanning hardware, software, and services—has earned it widespread praise from disability advocacy groups. For users who want to explore these offerings, Apple provides an Accessibility landing page on its website with detailed guides and video tutorials.
Source:9to5Mac News