AFB Blog

In fall of 2024, Apple launched iOS 18, the latest version of its operating system for iPhones and iPads. This article highlights some of the new mainstream features introduced with iOS 18, tested using an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.1. Settings In iOS 18, the Settings app has been streamlined. Instead of displaying a complete list of every app installed on your device, there is now a dedicated Apps section, located as the final item on the main Settings screen. At the top of the Apps page, you’…

Earlier this fall, Apple released iOS 18 for all iPhones, with updates being available to devices back to the iPhone Xr, Xs, and the iPhone SE (2nd generation). The Apple Intelligence feature, released on October 28th, will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and the full range of iPhone 16 devices. There are many new and updated features this year. Most of these will also work on iPads running iPadOS 18. This article focuses on the new accessibility features added this year. In Settings…

Members of AFB’s Public Policy team joined leaders in the technology and workforce space to share how AI could affect workers with disabilities at the first AI Skilling Fair held by the AI Workforce and Skills Roundtable and House Taskforce on AI. AFB’s Senior Advisor of Public Policy & Research, Sarah Malaier, spoke during the briefing and shared her thoughts after the event. New technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) is exciting when they open up greater opportunities and make…

A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. But did you know you could create a totally accessible picture using a thousand stainless steel ball bearings? Well, to be precise, you have access to 1,033 stainless steel ball bearings on the drawing side of the new BrailleDoodle. Veteran teacher of blind and visually impaired students, and self-proclaimed artist, Daniel Lubiner, began experimenting with an idea during the pandemic. That idea has evolved into a fully realized product that is…

When it comes to days or months designated to draw attention to specific issues or give voice to those traditionally unheard, the term "awareness" is often used. However, for Disability Pride Month, the word "pride" is used instead. This distinction is important and worth discussing. As someone with a disability who works in the field, I've thought a lot about Disability Pride Month over the last few weeks and its significance. In my research, I've noticed that some people find the idea of…

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This year, we've partnered with Teach Access, an organization that aims to broaden accessibility knowledge among industry and academia, to detail multiple resources that can elevate your disability knowledge. We will be detailing resources available through Teach Access as well as those from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)—free and comprehensive resources for educators, stakeholders, and developers…

“No one who is blind or has low vision is asking for special treatment. We want a chance to live up to our full potential.” Give Today Dear Friend, Thanks to your generous support, incredible stories of professional achievement unfold every day at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Those stories often emerge when people gain the confidence to secure fulfilling jobs with salaries that make self-sufficiency possible. When you learn about Krystle Allen, I hope you will share…

On Monday, June 10, 2024, Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote address. Leading up to this event, there was considerable speculation regarding Apple’s potential foray into Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as anticipated updates to Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant. This article does not cover every update. For the complete keynote address, visit the Apple WWDC 2024 Keynote on YouTube. Catch up on Accessibility in SwiftUI Before we discuss the Apple Keynote, lets…

Recently, in the blindness and low vision community, there has been discussion about Sonos, a popular manufacturer of smart speakers, releasing an update to their mobile app that significantly affected its accessibility for VoiceOver users on iOS. If you would like to learn more about this situation, or discover where things stand currently with Sonos accessibility, see this excellent blog post by Jonathan Mosen. Fortunately, it seems that Sonos is making an effort to improve VoiceOver…