Apple Unveiling New Accessibility Features – Disability Scoop

Technology giant Apple is introducing a host of new features aimed at helping those with various disabilities.

The company said this month that it will add “accessibility nutrition labels” to the product pages of apps and games in its App Store. The labels will give users details about whether an offering is compatible with accessibility options like voice control, larger text, sufficient contrast, reduced motion, captions and more before they download it.

Apple said it will provide specifics for developers so they will know what criteria their apps must meet in order to indicate that different accessibility features are supported.

“Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start,” said Eric Bridges, president and CEO at the American Foundation for the Blind. “These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence.”

In addition to the labels, Apple said that it’s enhancing Braille capabilities on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro and giving users new ways to customize text in order to make reading easier for individuals with dyslexia, low vision and other disabilities. The company is also adding live captioning capabilities on Apple Watch, among other improvements.

“At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, the company’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

The accessibility updates will be available later this year, Apple said.