accessibility
IBM Celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day – May 16
On Thursday, May 16, IBM site locations and iX Design Studios across the U.S. will celebrate the eighth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) – a worldwide observation to raise awareness of digital access and inclusion issues for people with disabilities. As an IBMer with a disability, and a founding member of IBM’s Team Able, I am […]
IBM at John Slatin AccessU 2019
Anytime is a good time to visit Austin, TX. Be it for the Austin City Limits Music festival (ACL), South by Southwest® (SXSW®) or most importantly the Web accessibility training program, John Slatin AccessU. AccessU is named after a pioneering leader in web accessibility, the late John Slatin, a professor at the University of Texas. […]
Invention and inclusion: a two-way approach
Patenting is my passion and inclusion is my responsibility as an inventor. We should always think about how we can include all of the population in the technology we create. Invention and inclusion work very well together, as they can work in both directions. Together, we can invent to improve lives and make this world […]
Reflections from a Brief Detour
About a month ago, I was “temporarily disabled” – I could not move without severe abdominal pain. I was diagnosed with appendicitis and had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the offending organ because it had enlarged to roughly threefold the average size. During the recovery, I was bedridden and under the constant care of […]
A look back on my summer internship with the IBM Accessibility team
After spending my sophomore and junior years working on assistive technology projects with Northwestern University’s Inclusive Technology Lab, the opportunity to explore accessibility research at IBM was an exciting introduction into the industry. I worked on everything from server configuration to front-end development to design research interviews. This broad range of experience made for a […]
Puzzle Solving with Computer Vision and Watson Services
Who doesn’t love the challenge of solving a puzzle? Jigsaw puzzles are a popular hobby for all ages and have been an important tool in a child’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. Children can develop physical skills such as better hand/eye coordination; cognitive skills such as shape recognition, memory, and problem solving; and emotional skills […]
Call for Code Brings Unique Opportunities for Inclusive Innovations
These are exciting times at IBM, following CEO Ginni Rometty’s May 24th announcement about Call for Code. As Laurent Sauveur of the United Nations Human Rights office points out, Call for Code is an excellent opportunity to explore how technology can play a role in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations. IBMer Daniel […]
Erich Manser Inducted into The Carroll Society
Today IBM Accessibility evangelist Erich Manser was inducted into The Carroll Center for the Blind’s Carroll Society. Each year the Carroll Center for the Blind and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind recognize blind and visually impaired professionals who have made significant contributions to the companies for which they work. Established in 1936, The Carroll Center […]
Free Accessibility Tools and Technology Pay It Forward
May 17 marks the seventh anniversary of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD was introduced to spark a conversation around digital accessibility to get people thinking and learning about accessibility. While the conversation is important, we must remember this is not a theoretical exercise. These are real challenges affecting people daily, but tackling these challenges […]