Inside the Big Tech Accessibility Playbook

We live in a world where nearly everything happens online. Shopping, learning, booking flights, paying bills, it’s all just a few clicks or taps away. But here’s the thing. If you can’t see the screen, hear what’s being said, or interact using standard gestures, the experience changes completely. That’s been the reality for millions of people with disabilities. For years, they had to work around technology that wasn’t built with them in mind. 

But that’s starting to shift. Big tech is waking up to something simple but powerful: accessibility isn’t just a feature, it’s the foundation of good design. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are leading this shift. Each is finding its own way to make devices and software more inclusive and more usable for everyone. 

So, what are they doing exactly? And why does it matter so much? 

Apple: Accessibility by design, not as a fix

If you ask people in the disability community which company sets the bar for accessibility, most will probably point to Apple. And for good reason. Apple doesn’t just bolt accessibility onto the side. It builds it right into the product. Whether someone is blind, hard of hearing, has motor challenges, or sees the world a little differently, Apple’s goal is to make every part of its tech work for them. 

VoiceOver 

VoiceOver is Apple’s screen reader. It gives spoken feedback about everything on your screen. Swipe left or right, and it reads out each item. Double tap to select. It’s simple once you learn the gestures, and it works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. That kind of consistency really matters. 

AssistiveTouch 

For folks who struggle with physical buttons or complicated gestures, AssistiveTouch is a lifesaver. It puts a floating menu on screen that makes actions like taking a screenshot or locking the screen easier. It also supports head tracking and external devices for hands-free control. 

Live Speech 

Live Speech helps people who have difficulty speaking. They can type what they want to say and let the phone speak it aloud. It’s great for phone calls, and it also works face-to-face. You can even save common phrases, so you don’t have to type them again and again. 

Personal Voice 

This one’s incredibly personal. If someone is losing their ability to speak, they can use Personal Voice to create a digital version of how they sound. The device reads a set of phrases, and that data builds a custom voice. Later, that voice can be used in Live Speech or other apps. 

Sound Recognition 

Sound Recognition is smart. The device listens for things like a doorbell, a smoke alarm, or a baby crying. When it hears something important, it sends an alert through a visual cue or vibration. It’s especially helpful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Haptic Music 

This feature brings music to your fingertips, literally. By translating rhythm into vibrations, people can feel a song through their iPhone or Apple Watch. It’s another way Apple makes experiences more inclusive without making them feel different. 

Apple Watch and thoughtful touches 

Even the Apple Watch is packed with accessibility. There’s Taptic Time, where you feel the time through vibrations, voice input, screen reading, and more. It’s all small stuff, but together it makes a big difference. 

Microsoft: Inclusion is built into the blueprint 

Microsoft isn’t just thinking about accessibility; it’s thinking about how things get built in the first place. The company has made inclusive design part of its process. That means thinking about a wide range of users from the start, not just tweaking features later. 

Immersive Reader 

Immersive Reader is a reading tool that shows up in apps like Word, Outlook, and Edge. It helps users by reading text aloud, breaking words into syllables, and adjusting text size and spacing. It’s a huge help for people with dyslexia or ADHD, and honestly, it’s useful for anyone trying to focus better. 

Seeing AI 

Seeing AI is a mobile app for blind or low-vision users. It turns the phone into a narrator. It can read printed text, describe scenes, recognise faces, and even tell you what’s on a product label. It’s practical, reliable, and completely free. 

Live captions and meeting transcripts 

Microsoft Teams includes live captions and automatic transcripts. That means people can follow along in real time or review what was said later. It’s helpful for people who are deaf, but also for anyone who just missed part of the conversation. 

Xbox Adaptive Controller 

The Xbox Adaptive Controller changes the game, literally. It’s a large, flat controller with big programmable buttons, designed to work with a wide range of assistive input devices. Whether someone uses switches, joysticks, or custom setups, they can play the way that works for them. 

Accessibility Insights 

This tool helps developers check their websites and apps for accessibility issues. It flags things like missing alt text or tricky navigation. Microsoft gives it away free because it believes accessibility isn’t just a user problem, it’s a design responsibility. 

Narrator, Magnifier, and Speech Recognition 

Windows includes Narrator, a screen reader; Magnifier, for zooming in on screen content; and speech recognition for voice commands. These are built right in, no extra downloads, no complicated setup. 

Google: making accessibility smarter with AI 

Google takes a more AI-powered approach to accessibility. Many of its features use machine learning to understand what’s happening and respond quickly. And since Android runs on so many devices, Google focuses on making these tools work well even on lower-cost phones. 

Live Caption 

Live Caption automatically adds subtitles to videos, podcasts, and even phone calls. It works across most apps and doesn’t need an internet connection. It’s especially useful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but also great if you’re watching something with the sound off. 

Lookout 

Lookout uses the phone’s camera and AI to describe what’s in front of you. It can read text, scan food labels, and describe scenes or objects. It’s designed for blind users but can help anyone who needs quick info in an unfamiliar setting. 

Action Blocks 

Action Blocks lets you create big, easy-to-tap buttons for common tasks, like calling a contact, playing music, or sending a message. These live on the home screen and are great for users with memory, mobility, or cognitive challenges. 

TalkBack 

TalkBack is Android’s built-in screen reader. It reads out everything on the screen and works with gestures, Braille displays, and multiple languages. Google keeps updating it to make it more responsive and easier to use globally. 

Project Euphonia 

Still in research, this project uses AI to better understand people with non-standard speech. That includes individuals with ALS, cerebral palsy, or other neurological conditions. The idea is to improve voice recognition so no one is excluded because their speech sounds different. 

Wheelchair-friendly routes 

Google Maps has a feature that shows wheelchair-accessible routes, entrances, and facilities. It’s especially useful in unfamiliar places. This info is gathered through community contributions and keeps getting better over time. 

A global movement with more players joining in 

Apple, Microsoft, and Google might be in the spotlight, but they’re not alone. Amazon is making Alexa easier for elderly users to understand by letting them slow down her responses. Kindle devices now support larger fonts, screen readers, and better display options. 

Meta has rolled out automatic image descriptions on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These use AI to describe what’s in a photo, which helps people who are blind engage more fully with social media. 

Samsung is improving its screen reader experience and making Galaxy phones easier to use with hearing aids. And smaller startups are building everything from eye-tracking tools to custom voice banks and apps for neurodivergent learners.

It’s not just a trend. It’s a shift in how tech gets built. Accessibility is becoming part of the process, not something added on top. 

Distilled 

The best technology doesn’t work for most people. It works for all. Apple brings empathy into design. Microsoft builds accessibility into the dev toolkit. Google uses AI to reach more users around the world. Different approaches, but the same goal. Big tech accessibility is no longer optional. It’s essential. Because when tools are built to include everyone, we all benefit. And if you ask us, that’s what tech should’ve been doing all along.