Today marked a significant event as we hosted the 15th annual Microsoft Ability Summit. An impressive gathering of over 20,000 virtual attendees from 164 nations joined forces to dive deep into the future of AI and accessibility. Microsoft’s dedication to accessibility runs deep, dating back to the original accessibility features in Windows 95 and continuing strong with today’s AI-powered innovations in hardware and software. Our pace of innovation is accelerating, and leading this charge are the individuals with disabilities themselves.
For people with disabilities, accessibility isn’t just a convenience—it’s a fundamental right. When technology becomes more accessible, it simplifies life for everyone. This principle is evident worldwide as users engage with Microsoft technologies. Take Copilot for Microsoft 365, for example. It’s revolutionizing workplace productivity. Meanwhile, over 10 million people are using Edge’s Read Aloud feature monthly, and more than a million individuals are taking advantage of Immersive Reader to enhance webpage readability. Partners like Tobii Dynavox and Special Olympics are extending AI’s reach to people with disabilities globally. These are just a few of the notable highlights we shared during today’s summit!
Let me give you a snapshot of the new accessibility products, features, and programs that were unveiled at the 2025 Ability Summit.
### What’s New in 2025?
A major announcement is that the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available, exclusively through the Microsoft Store. With a global community of over 429 million gamers with disabilities, it’s clear that every player has unique needs and preferences in how they engage with games. The Xbox Adaptive Joystick caters specifically to players with limited mobility, integrating seamlessly into existing gaming setups. This joystick was developed from the ground up with input from the Gaming and Disability community and complements our line of adaptive accessories, which includes the mouse, pen, adaptive kit, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Find more information on Xbox Support.
At Microsoft, even our product packaging has evolved to be both accessible and sustainable, breaking away from cumbersome plastic clamshells. To aid others in creating accessible packaging, Microsoft’s Packaging and Content Team unveiled the Accessible Packaging Design Guide at the Summit, providing practical guidelines and strategies to ensure an inclusive customer experience.
During the Summit, both Microsoft teams and our partners showcased their efforts to advance accessibility through technology solutions:
– Tobii Dynavox is integrating Microsoft Neural Voice, a feature of Azure AI Speech, into their assistive communication solutions. This functionality offers personalized communication options for those using assistive devices with eye-gaze technology. Neural Voices are featured in over 50 languages within their TD Talk and TD Phone applications.
– Microsoft Teams plans a significant enhancement for users of Sign Language View. By the end of this year, Teams will automatically recognize when someone is using sign language, highlighting them prominently during meetings. These video customizations are part of our ongoing commitment to delivering accessible communication solutions for everyone.
– Copilot is proving to be a vital tool for neurodiverse talent. A recent EY study highlighted that 76% of neurodiverse employees saw improved work performance with Copilot, which enhanced their communication, memory recall, and focus. We discussed how features like Team Reflow and PowerPoint Designer are transforming workflows for individuals, with insightful stories shared by four early adopters in New York.
We’ve got exciting developments for Narrator as well—AI-driven rich image descriptions will be available in the Windows Insider Preview this spring. Additionally, Azure AI Foundry has revealed new user interface improvements designed to reduce cognitive load.
Our Accessibility Skilling program has reached over 5 million learners globally, thanks to invaluable support from partners like Teach Access, Computacenter UK, and the City of New York. This free virtual training includes insights on AI and is available for integration into any organization’s learning management system.
In speech recognition, we’ve achieved up to a 60% improvement. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Speech Accessibility Project made this breakthrough, enhancing accuracy for non-standard speech. At the Summit, the Azure platform team showed developers how GitHub Copilot can assist in creating accessible code.
Furthermore, our partners at Special Olympics shared how Copilot has become an invaluable training asset for coaches and athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they prepare for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
All these advancements stem from the deep commitment of those who design technology with accessibility in mind. This dedication ensures that technology becomes a universal benefit, enhancing productivity and efficiency across workplaces. A shining example is Dave Dame, Senior Director of Accessibility and Human Factors at Microsoft, who shared how accessible technology empowers his leadership journey.
### Onward
For over three decades, Microsoft has remained focused on making accessibility integral to our products. This commitment to accessibility doesn’t just help those with disabilities; it enhances ease of use and sparks innovation across the globe. From introducing Sticky Keys and speech recognition in Windows 95 to launching Seeing AI in 2016 and beyond, these accessibility innovations have delivered benefits both planned and unexpected—like the universal appreciation for closed captions.
AI holds the potential to drive significant advancements across every sector of our society and economy. Our approach remains both grounded and responsible as we strive to deliver cutting-edge technology to those who need it most.
Whether today was your first Ability Summit or your fifteenth, thank you for joining us. We hope you discovered a feature, skill, or insight that benefits you or your community, and remember, all content from the event will be available for viewing afterwards.
Let’s continue to move forward together.
Tags: accessibility, AI, AI for Accessibility, Azure, Azure AI Foundry, Microsoft Ability Summit, Microsoft Teams, Xbox
