Google is rolling out a series of accessibility updates while announcing new efforts to help people with disabilities create online content.
The tech giant recently said it will improve features aimed at people who are blind or have low vision, people with cognitive disabilities and physical accessibility needs.
The company is also launching a six-month scholarship program for influencers with disabilities and investing $5 million in a background Support nonprofit organizations that make coding and computer science education more accessible for students with disabilities.
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“Our commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility doesn’t end with our products,” Laura Allen, Google’s head of strategy and programs, disability accessibility and inclusion, wrote in a post about the offerings. “We believe in supporting people with disabilities in all sectors and industries.”
The Google Rising Influencer with Disabilities Scholarship includes 15 participants from the US and Canada who will be mentored by accomplished influencers, learn from industry leaders, and connect with Google product teams.
The new investment fund will focus on organizations that use Blockly, an open source library from Google to “develop and deploy inclusive tools and curricula,” Allen said. “By helping tailor experiences to students with diverse learning styles and abilities, these nonprofits can support the important work to ensure that all students can fully participate in the digital world and gain critical computing skills.”
The product updates will include a new option for Lookout, an Android feature that allows people who are blind or have low vision to use their phone’s camera to know what’s in front of them, Google said. The “search mode” feature, which is in beta, allows users to receive notifications about the direction and distance of objects found within seven categories, including seats, tables and bathrooms.
Meanwhile, an Android app known as Look to Speak, which allows users to speak pre-written phrases they select with their eyes, will add a text-free mode with voice activated based on custom emojis, symbols and photos.
Google Maps is also expanding its options for screen readers so that users can hear the names and types of places near them and how far away they are. And turn-by-turn voice guidance offers audio prompts to let users know if they are on the right path, being detoured or crossing a busy intersection, Google said.
Additionally, Maps will now display a wheelchair icon on desktop computers to indicate if a location is wheelchair accessible. Previously, the icon was only visible on mobile devices.
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