Better Access from Microsoft Means Success for All

 

Microsoft last month announced a new five-year commitment to help bridge the “Disability Divide” the gap in societal inclusion for people with disabilities. Given the impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities, the commitments focus on talent development (employment and education), workplace culture (hiring), and accessible technology. On this episode of EdTech Today, Mike Tholfsen details Microsoft’s efforts and speculates the effects post-pandemic.

Some of these efforts include:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) in Microsoft Word will detect and convert to heading styles crucial for blind and low vision readers; new AI for Accessibility Low-Cost Assistive Technology Fund to help those who can’t currently afford it, use assistive technology.
  • A new Excel navigation pane designed for screen readers will help people easily discover and navigate objects in a spreadsheet.
  • Expanding Immersive Reader, used by 35 million people every month, to help with the comprehension of PowerPoint slides and notes.
  • In Teams, high-contrast mode can be used to access shared content using PowerPoint Live  and live closed captioning for people in the U.S. who are deaf or hard of hearing will reduce eye strain and accommodate light sensitivity with dark mode in Word.
  • New LinkedIn features that include auto-captioning for LinkedIn Live broadcasts, captions for enterprise content, and dark mode later this year.
  • A new background accessibility checker will provide a prompt to fix accessibility issues in content across the core Office apps and Outlook will nudge users to correct accessibility issues.
  • Based on a pilot at the University of Illinois, we’re expanding our work to additional colleges and universities to increase graduation rates of students with disabilities in STEM education, reaching universities such as the University of Texas Austin, Georgia Tech, and Florida A&M.
  • Investments in the Urban Airband Initiative to provide affordable broadband, hardware, and software to people with disabilities starting in Los Angeles and New York.
  • New ASL video call capability through Microsoft Stores to enable deaf customers to explore Microsoft products and receive shopping support with a member of our deaf support staff.

Listen to Previous Episodes of EdTech Today!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Experts Are All Around You
Experts Are All Around You
February 7, 2025

In the latest episode of “UGC for B2B: Experts are All Around You,” hosts Geoffrey Short and Gordie Tamayo delve into the evolving landscape of user-generated content (UGC) in the B2B sector. The episode, aired on February 6, 2025, focuses on the shift from traditional content formats like PDFs and blogs to dynamic videos…

Read More
No Fail Trust Methodology
Empowering Teams with the No Fail Trust™ Methodology: Insights From U.S. Air Force Pilot Jason O. Harris
February 7, 2025

On this episode of the Through the Storm podcast, Dr. Travis Hearne speaks with Retired U.S. Air Force Pilot, Global Keynote Speaker, and all-around badass, Jason O. Harris. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Harris is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, best-selling author, expert thought leader, and professional pilot. As a fourth-generation military member, Jason’s distinguished career…

Read More
The Art of Communication in Disaster Recovery: Building Trust and Delivering Results
The Art of Communication in Disaster Recovery
February 6, 2025

In this episode of Inside Restoration and Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Chris Matthews, Regional Director for Large Loss at BMS CAT, to explore the critical role of communication, preparation, and adaptability in disaster recovery. Chris shares his personal journey in the restoration industry, including his passion for helping clients during their…

Read More
women’s health
AI and Advocacy Unite: Tackling Women’s Health Disparities with Hologic Mia Keeys
February 5, 2025

Women’s health remains a critical issue globally, with alarming disparities in access and outcomes. A new survey from Hologic and Gallup reveals that while nearly 90% of women recognize the importance of health screenings, less than half undergo them consistently due to barriers like cost, time, and anxiety. The stakes are particularly high in…

Read More