Accessibility is often seen as a means to ensure inclusivity, but its impact goes far beyond that. It’s a powerful driver of innovation, enabling businesses to create more adaptable, user-friendly and forward-thinking products.

Laura Allen, Director for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google, has been at the forefront of this movement, drawing on personal experiences to champion the integration of accessibility and disability inclusion.

In this article, Allen shares her insights on how accessibility fuels innovation, the hurdles holding back true inclusivity in technology and what emerging technologies should be embraced to create a more inclusive future.

Accessibility as a catalyst for innovation

“Building more accessible products can fuel innovation because it pushes teams to break barriers and find new ways of approaching the world,” says Allen. She emphasizes that accessibility is not just about inclusivity; it also serves as a springboard for innovation, improving products and services overall.

Allen highlights the creative resourcefulness of people with disabilities, who often develop ingenious workarounds to bridge accessibility gaps. By collaborating with the disability community during product development, businesses can uncover unique insights into how their products are used and adapted. “This enables teams to build better products overall because they’re being pushed to create solutions that meet the needs of a wider range of people,” explains Allen.

Overcoming accessibility hurdles

Allen identifies two key hurdles to achieving true inclusivity in technology. The first is the misconception that accessibility is overly complex or time-consuming to implement. She points out that this issue often arises when accessibility is treated as an afterthought. “If accessibility is factored in from the design phase, it really shouldn’t add much additional time to the process. And the result is an expansion of the amount of people who can access and enjoy the product,” she notes.

The second challenge lies in raising awareness of accessibility tools’ broader applicability. Allen shares an example from her own personal experience: “I have low vision, and one of my favorite apps to use is Magnifier, a Pixel app that launched in 2023. It was built for people with visual impairments like me, but it’s also incredibly useful for anyone needing to magnify something.”

Allen elaborates on the app’s versatility, explaining how she uses it for tasks like reading street signs, examining product ingredients or even identifying a license plate at night. “I’ve passed it around to friends and family during dinner in dimly lit restaurants so they can read menus properly, and they’re always amazed and grateful.”

This illustrates how accessibility tools designed for specific needs often have a universal appeal.

The role of emerging technologies

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT hold tremendous potential for accessibility. “When used with intention, they have the power to level the playing field for people with disabilities,” says Allen.

One example Allen shares is the Gemini-powered updates in Google’s Lookout app and TalkBack screen reader. These tools go beyond basic descriptions of images. “Take a cat sitting on a table,” she explains. “Now, the technology can tell you the breed of the cat, the time of day and what the cat seems to be doing. This extra level of detail can be meaningful — or simply delightful — in all sorts of situations.”

AI’s adaptability through multi-modality also stands out as a game-changer. It enables tech to dynamically adjust to users’ needs, paving the way for groundbreaking solutions. For instance, advancements in machine learning models have led to hands-free tools that recognize facial gestures and eye movements, such as the Face Control feature in ChromeOS.

“The models powering Face Control create a 3D mesh of 478 facial points, enabling precise, real-time gesture detection,” explains Allen.

This innovation is particularly impactful for users with mobility impairments, offering them greater control and independence.

Integrating accessibility from the ground up

Google’s approach to accessibility offers a model for other companies. Allen explains their “hub and spoke” strategy: “Our team works as a central hub, collaborating with product teams like Android accessibility and Chrome accessibility during development.” This integrated approach allows for holistic accessibility inclusion across Google’s products.

Another crucial aspect is engaging with the disability community throughout the development process. “Seeking feedback from our external community is a vital part of our process,” says Allen. Hiring people with disabilities is equally important. “This is the best way to ensure a diverse set of perspectives and experiences as you are building programs and products. We have an amazing community of Googlers with disabilities,” she continues.

Google's Disability Alliance Employee Resource Group (ERG) plays a significant role in fostering an inclusive workplace. “We have local chapters across the world, as well as topic-specific chapters, like Googlers with ADHD, Googlers with visual impairments, and parents and caregivers of people with disabilities,” says Allen. These groups not only support employees but also provide invaluable feedback to improve accessibility in Google’s products.

Streamlining accessibility through automation

Automated tools are vital for integrating accessibility into product design early. Allen points to Google’s Accessibility Scanner, which flags potential barriers and offers recommendations during the development process. “Automated testing is a great tool,” she says, “but it’s important to consider it in partnership with direct user testing with people with disabilities.”

Allen also highlights the incorporation of Accessibility Scanner into Android Studio in 2022 to enable developers to have one more avenue to build applications with people with disabilities in mind. “In Layout Editor, accessibility issues are automatically flagged, with descriptions of what barriers might be posed for assistive technology using the app,” she explains. This integration allows developers to address issues proactively.

The future of accessibility in technology

As AI-driven technologies like natural language processing, machine learning and computer vision advance, their potential to create more intuitive and universally accessible products grows. “Each new technical milestone pushes the boundary of what’s possible,” observes Allen.

Ultimately, accessibility is about designing for inclusion while unleashing innovation. As Allen puts it, “By considering accessibility from the start, we expand our ability to build products that are even more adaptable and useful to people with disabilities in their daily lives.”

The future of accessibility is about creating experiences that are better for everyone. As more companies integrate accessibility into their core product strategies, the lines between accessibility and mainstream usability will blur, leading to more universally designed technologies.

As accessibility tools continue to evolve, we can expect to see a more inclusive digital world, where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate. For companies like Google, and leaders like Allen, this mission goes beyond innovation and ensures that no one is left behind in the digital age.