Welcome to the Talent Lab Tech Notes blog! Explore tips, perspectives, and news from our team of accessibility and usability experts and AFB Talent Lab participants in this collection of articles that’s updated monthly.
Reading has the power to take you anywhere. Whether it’s escaping into your favorite fantasy series, catching up on the latest research, or diving into a new sci-fi book, reading connects us to new ideas, new people, and new perspectives. But for many people who rely on assistive technology, accessing books isn’t always as easy as picking one up and flipping through it, or even downloading one onto an e-reader.
In a world driven by data, access to information empowers people to make informed decisions. Often, this data is organized into complex data visualizations, such as charts, tables, or infographics, to provide structure and enhance engagement. Creators understand that the broader the reach of information, the greater the potential impact. Yet even the most engaging infographics can inadvertently become exclusive artifacts, accessible to only a portion of their intended audience.
Accessibility testing is a critical process in digital product development, often undervalued and misunderstood. During my internship at the American Foundation for the Blind, I discovered how collaborative approaches significantly enhance both the efficacy and depth of these evaluations. I have had the opportunity to learn the actualities of accessibility testing, and one key takeaway was that the outcome and quality of these tests is seriously amplified through the inclusion of collaborative work.
In modern digital landscapes, usability and visibility are essential components of any successful online presence. Accessible UX design aims to create inclusive digital experiences that are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. But how do we reach a broader array of users without reinventing the wheel? While legislation, education, and advocacy address accessibility on a macro level, we can also make impactful changes on the micro level by improving visibility for those who go the extra mile in their efforts.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rewriting the rules of digital communication. Text is written in seconds, images appear with a single prompt, and now – without lifting a finger – you can get a caption for almost any photo. Alt text, the essential descriptive layer that blind and low vision users rely on to make visual content meaningful, is being auto-generated everywhere: from Facebook and Twitter to even LinkedIn and Microsoft Office.
Social Media has become a place where we can come together to post about our pets, have a quick laugh, and congratulate each other on achievements. However, with the inherent reliance on images in these platforms, the full scope and value of these interactions may not apply to everyone if alternative text is not available. Alternative text, or alt text, is a short and concise description of the visual information in an image, which is particularly useful for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Many of us are familiar with the subtitles and captions that help us follow along when music swells over dialogue in movies and TV shows. But what if you couldn’t see the myriad of stunning visuals that bring your favorite performances to life? Instead of words written out on a screen, you would need a voice to guide you. Insert audio descriptions here. This often overlooked form of accessibility is essential for the 2.2 billion blind and low vision (BLV) folks worldwide that rely on it to experience content in meaningful ways, both personally and professionally.
Implementing accessibility can seem like an overwhelming challenge, especially when resources are limited. Whether you're part of a small independent team trying to make a big impact or an individual in a large organization, achieving perfect accessibility standards can appear nearly impossible. The sheer volume of guidelines, technical requirements, and best practices can leave even the most well-intentioned developers feeling defeated before they begin.
As we delve deeper into 2025, the rapid speeds at which technology is advancing is showing no signs of slowing down. From the invention of wireless flying robots with a wingspan smaller than a penny, to the nearly daily developments made to generative artificial intelligence (AI), it can be tricky to keep up with everything. The field of digital accessibility is no stranger to these innovations, either.
It’s 2025, and for many, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are an ordinary part of everyday life. From smart home routines to virtual assistants and chatbots, both automation and AI have proven to be quite versatile and handy in a multitude of ways. With that being said, it is also the case that automation and AI currently do not address or solve every problem on their own; this is especially true in the realm of digital accessibility.