How do you create a world where everyone has the opportunity to communicate, play, learn, and experience all the world has to offer—regardless of their abilities, their level of education, or where they come from?
Thanks to purposeful engineering, experiences that were once closed off to people with disabilities or from different backgrounds are now open to all. From eye-controlled technology to open-access museums to immersive concerts, visionaries are harnessing technology to design a more inclusive world.
"Until there’s a cure for ALS, technology is the cure."
In 2011, former NFL player Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS—a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Today, he's a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal—the highest cilvilian honor in the United States—for the work he's done through his charity Team Gleason, providing technology, equipment, and services that empower people with ALS to live as productively and independently as possible.
Opening up access to a world of art, music, and ideas
For centuries, seeing art and music firsthand was something reserved for the lucky few—those with the resources, experiences, and abilities to get past the gatekeepers and access the sea of knowledge behind the work. But thanks to technology, that reality is changing fast. Explore how the world of art, music, and ideas is becoming more accessible than ever.
Defining what’s possible when passion is matched by purpose
Rock band X Ambassadors believe that music is multi-sensory. It’s not only something we hear—we can feel it. And see it. This is particularly true for keyboardist and founding member Casey Harris, who was born with low vision. Find out how Casey’s experiences have shaped the band, making accessibility and inclusion an integral part of how they reach their fans. And learn more about how he's striving to create a world without limits with help from his family and accessible technology.
Unlocking the power and passion of play
Play is an essential part of being human. It’s how we unwind, connect, and feel the joy of being alive. And that’s what makes it a crucial part of inclusive design. These innovative initiatives have helped unlock the power and passion of play by building products that are accessible to all people of all abilities.
Meet Spencer Allen
A passionate gamer and relentless creator, Spencer Allen had an accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. After his accident, he didn’t think about gaming as there wasn’t a good solution for him. Once the Adaptive Controller came out – gaming was always on his mind. Inspired by the Adaptive Controller, he created his own rig with the addition of custom buttons and joysticks giving him the precise trigger movements to play Halo and Call of Duty at the level he used to.
Changing the game … for anyone who wants to play
The new Xbox Adaptive Controller will make gaming accessible to players around the world, of all ages, with a broad range of disabilities. The controller can be connected to external buttons, switches, joysticks and mounts, giving gamers with physical disabilities the ability to customize their setups.
At Burton, "we ride together"
Burton Snowboards lives by its mission, harnessing inclusive design and creativity to explore adaptive technology in a way that helps all riders—including those with disabilities—achieve their full potential. They continue to perfect their innovative Step On® boots and bindings system, which lets riders lock into place without bending over or sitting in the snow to adjust straps.
Microsoft’s Learning Tools help students with learning differences improve their reading skills.
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Zyrobotics is using AI technology to help fill in literacy gaps for underserved students.
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The Enabling Boat gives coastal youth in Vietnam access to tech training and opportunity.
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