Accessibility News: May 2025

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New accessibility features coming to Apple products:  

In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple has previewed a wide range of new accessibility features to iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro later this year. These updates are designed to support users with disabilities across vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive access needs.

What are the highlights?

• Accessibility “Nutrition Labels” on the App Store: Developers will soon be able to disclose the accessibility features supported in their apps - such as VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and closed captions - helping users quickly identify apps that meet their needs before downloading.
• All-New Magnifier for Mac: A redesigned Magnifier will bring zoom, colour filters, and text focus tracking to macOS, matching the iOS experience.
• Braille Screen Input and Braille Note-taking: Enhancements to braille support will allow Apple devices to function as fully-featured braille note takers. Users will be able to edit text, create and save notes, and perform mathematical operations using Nemeth Braille.
• Accessibility Reader: A simplified reading mode with adjustable text, spacing, and colour options has been designed to improve readability and reduce cognitive load.
• New VisionOS Features: The Vision Pro headset will support new features such as system-wide Live Captions (for all audio sources), adjustable VoiceOver settings for spatial experiences, and custom colour filters for users with vision impairments.
• Eye Tracking: Using on-device machine learning, Apple’s new Eye Tracking feature, available on iPad and iPhone, will enable users with physical disabilities to navigate and control their devices with just their eyes. No extra hardware required.
• Vehicle Motion Cues: Animated dots on the screen edges will provide visual context that aligns with real-world movement to help reduce motion sickness.

Apple also announced upcoming improvements to VoiceOver, Switch Control, Personal Voice, and Live Speech, along with the global expansion of features like systemwide Live Captions.

Read more on the Apple Newsroom.

New guidance document on WCAG for mobile applications:

The W3C has published a first public working draft of "Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.2 to Mobile Applications," a long-anticipated document that aims to help teams understand how the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) apply to mobile apps beyond the web.

The guidance addresses a key gap: how to implement WCAG for native, hybrid, and web-based mobile applications, which often involve complex interfaces and device-specific interactions.

The draft includes:

• Examples of how WCAG 2.2 success criteria apply in mobile contexts, such as swipe gestures, dynamic content updates, small screen constraints, and native UI components.
• Clarifications on interpreting "web page" in the context of apps, helping to align mobile app design with WCAG’s existing structure.
• Cross-platform insights, noting similarities and distinctions between iOS and Android in implementing accessible functionality like keyboard focus, semantics, and screen reader compatibility.

Though still in draft form, WCAG2Mobile is already shaping how developers and accessibility professionals approach mobile accessibility audits and design. It offers practical flexibility while staying grounded in WCAG principles, making it a valuable guide for creating more inclusive mobile experiences.

Read the full draft guidance.

TTC clients recognised at accessibility awards: 

TTC client's Bendigo Bank and the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) have been recognised for their work in accessibility at this year's AusDN awards, aimed at recognising commitment to disability and inclusion across the community.

A key part of the Index involves demonstrating strong digital accessibility practices—and we're proud to have supported both Bendigo Bank and DCJ on their digital accessibility journey.

Bendigo Bank ranked 6th place overall in the Access and Inclusion Index and best in class for the Premises category.

NSW Department of Communities and Justice was recognised for ranking second in the Access and Inclusion Index.

These are incredible achievements that reflects the deep commitment to creating inclusive environments for both staff and the communities they serve.

Read more about how TTC has supported Bendigo Bank’s access and inclusion journey.