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And accessibility is not just about helping those who are blind and low-sighted get around without barriers — it’s also about access to opportunities. We’re partnering with American Printing House and Humanware to give Canadian students who are blind or have low vision access to STEM skills with Code Jumper. Most existing coding tools are highly visual in nature, both in how the code is manipulated (such as dragging and dropping coding blocks) and in how the code behaves (such as showing animations). This makes them inaccessible to students who can’t see.

Code Jumper is different: Both the app and the physical kit which goes with it provide audible feedback, so children who are blind and sighted can work on projects and learn together.

Accessible technology fosters a more inclusive society for everyone. We need to shift our collective mindset away from the notion that accessibility is something for people with disabilities to the idea that accessibility is something that benefits everyone.

Despite the progress we’ve seen with accessible technology, many Canadians with disabilities still face barriers with accessing the digital landscape. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 200 million people worldwide with low vision who do not have access to assistive technology. To solve this, companies must look to people with disabilities for direction.

On Tuesday, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we challenge you to help solve this issue — design and develop technology with people with disabilities, not for people with disabilities.

With the help of partnerships, like the one between Microsoft and CNIB, and community involvement, technology can truly level the playing field for people who are blind or partially sighted. Investing in accessible technology and digital platforms should be best practice. Together, we can create inclusive communities.

— Yvonne Felix is Central Lead, Technology & Innovation, CNIB, and Bill Buxton is with Microsoft Research