I’m excited for a future where accessible self-driving cars are a reality. People with disabilities stand to benefit the most from self-driving cars, but developers are not making accessibility enough of a priority. Waiting until a product is “finished” to start thinking about accessibility is like completing construction of a skyscraper and then tearing part of it down to install an elevator. Planning for accessibility from the start saves resources and results in an overall better product.
I partnered with Ericsson on a short film to spotlight the need for fully accessible autonomous vehicles. Technology designed with access in mind will advance equal opportunities for people with disabilities, increasing our ability to work, study, and travel with ease and freedom. The companies that choose to prioritize accessibility benefit from tapping into the significant market of over 1.3 billion people with disabilities around the world. If we plan for it, tech will create a barrier-free future.
It has captions, a transcript, and audio descriptions. Audio descriptions provide spoken narration of key visual details, enhancing the experience for blind viewers. If you’ve never experienced it, open Settings on the film page and turn on audio descriptions — You may discover something new.
Enjoy!