{"id":22756,"date":"2026-03-19T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/?p=22756"},"modified":"2026-06-17T09:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T16:34:12","slug":"mapping-the-microsoft-approach-to-accessibility-in-the-world-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/mapping-the-microsoft-approach-to-accessibility-in-the-world-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Mapping the Microsoft approach to accessibility in the world of AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than 1 billion people worldwide have a disability, and 83 percent of people will experience a disability during their working years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As AI transforms how we build and experience technology, accessibility has to be built in from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing with and for people with disabilities isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s fundamental to building technology that works for everyone and to building trust at scale. And yet today, about 96% of websites are still inaccessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Microsoft, we\u2019re committed to creating accessible products and services\u2014designed with and for the disability community\u2014that benefit everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our \u201cshift left\u201d approach to software production\u2014which involves moving quality-assurance, testing, and accessibility checks to earlier in the development lifecycle\u2014means that implementing assistive features and tools is a high priority for Microsoft, rather than a late-stage addition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with the rise in importance of AI tools and products, paying close attention to accessibility standards and building these key capabilities into game-changing tech like Microsoft 365 Copilot is a crucial part of our mission here in Microsoft Digital, the company\u2019s IT organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cAfter my accident, I became immediately reliant on accessible technology. Because I worked in tech, I could leverage accessibility features and assistive technologies to continue doing my job. It was literally a lifeline for me.\u201d<\/p>\nLaurie Allen, accessibility technology evangelist, Microsoft<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Evangelizing for accessibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Laurie Allen is one person who knows first-hand the importance of accessibility in enterprise software. A little more than a decade ago, she experienced a spinal cord injury and became a quadriplegic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Allen works as an accessibility technology evangelist at Microsoft. Every day, she relies on assistive digital technologies to help her be successful in her role\u2014which involves ensuring that our software products are accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter my accident, I became immediately reliant on accessible technology,\u201d Allen says. \u201cBecause I worked in tech, I could leverage accessibility features and assistive technologies to continue doing my job. It was literally a lifeline for me during that transitionary phase, because my job was the one thing about my life that didn’t dramatically change as a result of the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following graphic shows how widespread disability is around the globe: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1 + B<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16% of the worldwide population has a disability\u2014more than 1 billion people<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1 in 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identify as neurodivergent<\/p>\n\n\n\n

53% of Gen Z<\/p>\n\n\n\n

70% of Gen Alpha<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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83%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

will experience a disability (including situational or temporary) while of working age<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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75%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most disabilities are non-apparent\u2014<\/strong>you don’t know who is affected<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Shifting left for inclusivity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Microsoft, our accessibility strategy includes such disability categories as mobility, vision, hearing, cognition, and learning\u2014because accessibility empowers everyone<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWe view accessibility as a quality of our software, not simply a feature. Like with security and privacy, we prioritize accessibility to ensure that people can effectively perceive and operate our products and services, delivering an inclusive experience for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\nAnkur Garg, accessibility program manager, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We begin with the concept of \u201cshift left,\u201d which in this context means incorporating accessibility principles from the project\u2019s outset, instead of waiting until a product is already built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This strategy mirrors our approach in other key trust domains, such as security and privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe view accessibility as a quality of our software, not simply a feature,\u201d says Ankur Garg, an accessibility program manager in Microsoft Digital. \u201cLike with security and privacy, we prioritize accessibility to ensure that people can effectively perceive and operate our products and services, delivering an inclusive experience for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here in Microsoft Digital, that manifests as treating accessibility as a core requirement validated through rigorous internal testing of AI agents and embedding standards and inclusive design early in every tool\u2019s development life cycle. We also use internal AI tools to streamline guidance and testing before expanding those practices across the company.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility challenges in the age of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Technology is moving fast, especially with the advent of AI-powered tools. It\u2019s easier than ever for companies and individuals to quickly generate and publish an app, website, or other digital product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means it’s also easier than ever before to create inaccessible software. It\u2019s important to remember that much of the data that generative AI models have been trained on includes websites and apps that were built without considering accessibility guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWe want people with disabilities to be represented and see themselves in the technology we\u2019re producing. We work with our AI models to make sure they have disability data in their training sets, so that the final product will reflect these values.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nAlli Hirt, director of accessibility engineering, Microsoft<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As a result, we\u2019ve found that many AI code-generation tools and models produce code that by default fail to meet Microsoft\u2019s high standards for accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want people with disabilities to be represented and see themselves in the technology we\u2019re producing,\u201d says Alli Hirt, a director of accessibility engineering at Microsoft. \u201cWe work with our AI models to make sure they have disability data in their training sets, so that the final product will reflect these values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we\u2019re developing AI-driven products like Microsoft 365 Copilot, the tool must have comprehensive knowledge of different disabilities and be able to give appropriate, contextual help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s say I tell Copilot, \u2018I have a mobility disability; what software tools can I use?\u2019\u201d Allen says. \u201cCopilot must recognize what a mobility disability is and identify which tools will support me. That\u2019s the data representation we need in our AI models.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen noted that sensitivity and bias are also big factors when creating these kinds of tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCopilot should not respond with, \u2018I\u2019m sorry you have a disability,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s the type of bias we\u2019re working to train out of the models.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility as a core commitment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Satya Nadella became Microsoft CEO in 2014, he redirected the core mission of the company. The new vision was simple: To empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. And accessibility is a core part of that mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAt Microsoft, accessibility is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company.\u201d<\/p>\nLaurie Allen, accessibility technology evangelist, Microsoft<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Meeting global accessibility standards is our starting point. For example, the hub-and-spoke business model of the Accessibility Team helps ensure that accessibility is everyone\u2019s responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Microsoft Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) group oversees accessibility across the company, helping products align with internationally recognized accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and EN 301 549. These standards ensure that digital content, websites, and apps produced today are designed with accessibility in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding how products and services align to key accessibility standards and requirements is an important step in providing inclusive and accessible experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn organization\u2019s accessibility program succeeds when it\u2019s a priority at every level of the organization, starting with senior leadership,\u201d Allen says. \u201cAt Microsoft, accessibility is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenting content in a multimodal way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here in Microsoft Digital, we embrace software products that provide our employees with a multimodal approach in presenting content. This means using more than one sense at the same time, like seeing, listening, reading, and speaking. This makes our products accessible to a diverse array of users, including people who learn and work in different ways. It lets our employees customize the way that works best for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSeeing a visually impaired colleague demonstrate how he works\u2014listening to a wiki being read at a speed that I could never follow\u2014showed me exactly why accessibility is needed. It\u2019s not just about being inclusive or compassionate; it’s a requirement for people to do their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\nEman Shaheen, principal PM lead, Microsoft Digital<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For example, someone may not have a diagnosed disability, but they might be a better auditory learner than a visual learner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reflects what Eman Shaheen, a principal PM lead in Microsoft Digital, learned from a team member when observing how he used assistive technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeeing a visually impaired colleague demonstrate how he works\u2014listening to a wiki being read at a speed I couldn\u2019t even follow\u2014showed exactly why accessibility is needed,\u201d Shaheen says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about being inclusive or compassionate; it\u2019s a requirement for people to do their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some examples of multimodal accessibility capabilities offered by Microsoft 365 Copilot that are designed to support diverse user requirements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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