The latest assistive and accessibility technology — new devices, features and breakthroughs relevant to disabled people. Each brief is a short summary with a link to the original source.
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India’s Blind Relief Association launches affordable AI vision glasses and smart cane
The Blind Relief Association and Torchit Electronics have launched AI-powered Jyoti vision glasses and a smart cane aimed at affordable, ‘Make in India’ accessibility.
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Cochlear’s Osia 3 becomes first rechargeable bone conduction sound processor
Cochlear has won FDA clearance for the Osia 3 Sound Processor, the first fully rechargeable active bone conduction hearing device, arriving in the US this fall.
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National Organization on Disability launches on-demand inclusion training platform
The National Organization on Disability has launched EnAble Learning, an on-demand, WCAG-compliant disability inclusion training platform for workplaces.
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AbilityNet names 2026 Tech4Good Award winners for accessible innovation
AbilityNet’s 2026 Tech4Good Awards honoured an AI stroke-speech tool, affordable 3D-printed assistive devices, and a new financial inclusion award.
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WHO issues guidance on repairing and recycling assistive products
WHO/Europe has released new guidance on repairing, refurbishing, and recycling everyday assistive products like wheelchairs and walking aids.
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New UK professional body launches to accredit assistive technology specialists
A new UK professional body now offers accreditation for assistive technology specialists supporting disabled adults.
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Windows Narrator gains AI image and text descriptions
Microsoft’s April 2026 update lets the built-in Narrator screen reader describe images — and read text inside them — using AI, plus voice typing for renaming files.
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2.5 billion people need assistive tech — nearly a billion can’t get it
The WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology lays out a vast access gap, from wheelchairs to hearing aids, especially in lower-income countries.
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Apple’s 2026 accessibility features lean on on-device AI
VoiceOver that describes what the camera sees, natural-language Voice Control, and eye-controlled wheelchairs on Vision Pro — most running on-device.
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