- Apple has a new video from the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- It’s not your typical accessibility video
- It highlights a wide range of Apple accessibility features
They’re not ‘brave’, ‘remarkable’ or ‘inspiring’, but I think it’s safe to say that the students with disabilities who participated in Apple’s latest International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) film produced an extraordinary and moving video, one that reminds us that they’re just human, messy, wonderful people.
Throughout the video, which of course highlights all the accessibility features Apple offers across its product line, including Magnifier in macOS, Braille Access, Assistive Touch on Apple Watch, Live Captions and more, we see students using tools like gestures on Apple Watch and Name Recognition (text alerts when the phone detects someone calling your name) to connect with other students and study both in and out of class.
Despite the message, it’s hard not to be moved by the often joyful moments contained in the video. These students with disabilities ranging from sight to hearing and from mobility to missing limbs sing, dance, navigate campus life and demonstrate that they are not trying to be special, but just want to do what everyone else is doing. Taking advantage of Apple’s accessibility tools certainly helps. But there is more to it than that.
Look at
While the video, directed by Kim Gehrig, is a stark reminder that none of these young people are trying to be inspirational, perhaps they provide some examples of strong self-determination. The young woman drawing with an Apple Pencil on an iPad using her toes (see above) is doing what she loves and not trying to demonstrate any special ability, at least not one beyond her impressive drawing skills.
Accessibility tools are not ultimately about improving ability; they are about ensuring that students like them can experience learning, creativity and socialization in roughly the same way as students without disabilities.
It’s a strong, uplifting, sometimes funny message and perhaps a portrayal of disabled people that we haven’t seen before.
As they say in the video, “
“I’m only notable because everyone is.”
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