Apple Online Store gets new accessibility section

By

Screen Shot 2016-05-05 at 14.41.26
You can now get your accessibility gadgets from Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple has added a new section to its online store where shoppers can find a range of accessibility gadgets. It is split up into vision, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy categories, and features products for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

A December report from a Japanese website claimed Apple was planning to sell accessibility gadgets in early 2016 in an effort to help fans with disabilities better engage with its products. As of today, that accessibility section is live.

It currently boasts 15 products Apple has never stocked before, including proximity sensors, tracking cameras, Skoogmusic’s tactile music interface, and HumanWare’s Brailliant braille displays, which helps blind users operate iOS and OS X.

As the catalog grows, shoppers will be able to find products more easily by browsing the various categories Apple provides for vision, physical and motor skills, and learning and literacy — or by viewing only the products that are compatible with their Apple device.

Many of the products are available for Personal Pickup form Apple retail stores.

Apple has long been a proponent of accessibility in its software, with features like VoiceOver, which can be found not only in iOS and OS X, but also in watchOS and the new tvOS. However, this is the first time Apple has properly backed and offered accessibility hardware.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.