Over the past day there has been much coverage online of a Mashable article
<http://mashable.com/2016/07/10/apple-innovation-blind-engineer> featuring
Jordyn Castor <https://twitter.com/jordyn2493> , a blind member of Apple's
Accessibility Team.
In the article, Castor speaks passionately about Apple's deep commitment to
accessibility and her own personal journey.
Coming so soon after the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) passed a
resolution in which it called Apple
<http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-apple-news/nfb-passes-resolution-call
ing-apples-software-testing-inadequate-seeking> 's testing for the
accessibility of its products "inadequate", it's hard not to suspect that
Apple's press and public relations team has been busy trying to set the
record straight - both with the original Mashable article and the many
follow-up articles from other mainstream outlets (see for example 9to5Mac
<http://9to5mac.com/2016/07/10/apple-accessibility-team-interview/> ,
MacRumours
<http://www.macrumors.com/2016/07/10/apple-accessibility-highlighted-blind-e
ngineer/> and AppleInsider
<http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/10/profile-highlights-blind-apple-en
gineer-working-on-accessibility-tech> ). Even Tim Cook's Twitter account
joined in, tweeting <https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/752205497390931968>
"Proud of our talented team dedicated to providing #accessibility for all
users". It's also noteworthy that the Mashable article actually mentions the
NFB, pointing out that two years ago the organisation said "Apple has done
more for accessibility than any other company."
Regardless of whether this positive and concentrated focus on accessibility
was an orchestrated attempt by Apple to indirectly respond to the NFB
resolution or if it was simply happenstance, the Mashable article offers an
interesting glimpse into Apple's work to ensure the accessibility of its
products and the people involved.
Castor, a 22 year old graduate of Michigan State University, has been blind
since birth. In the Mashable article she speaks of being "amazed" by the
"immediate accessibility" of an iPad she received for her 17th birthday and
that "it raised her passion for tech to another level".
After speaking with Apple representatives at a job fair, Castor was offered
an internship by the company. The Mashable article reports that:
As her internship came to a close, Castor's skills as an engineer and
advocate for tech accessibility were too commanding to let go. She was hired
full-time as an engineer on the accessibility design and quality team - a
group of people Castor describes as "passionate" and "dedicated."
Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Manager for Global Accessibility Policy and
Initiatives at Apple, told Mashable that "a notable part of the company's
steps toward accessibility is its dedication to making inclusivity features
standard, not specialized", and that "by being built-in, [these features]
are also free. Historically, for the blind and visually impaired community,
there are additional things you have to buy or things that you have to do to
be able to use technology." Herrlinger also explained how it's important to
have a good team working on accessibility features because "accessibility is
something that is never-ending."
With major releases of iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS due this fall and
promising new accessibility features
<http://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-apple-watch-assistive-technolog
y-ios-mac-os-x-news/apple-previews-new> - and many of us also wanting to
see some accessibility-related bugs fixed along the way - Apple's
Accessibility Team has ample opportunity to further demonstrate its passion
and dedication.
We would strongly encourage you to read the full article on Mashable, as
it's an interesting and rare insight into Apple's Accessibility Team.
Posted by AppleVis: Website:
www.applevis.com <http://www.applevis.com>
