What does Accessibility Look Like in 2025?
July 10, 2025
Accessibility has come a long way since 1990. In the 35 years since the passing of the ADA, we see a world that is more accommodating for everyone in many more places.
- Ramps and Elevators: Instead of stairs, ramps and elevators are more prevalent, making buildings and public spaces more accessible
- Curb Cuts: Cities are replacing traditional curbs with curb cuts-more are replaced every year
- Braille on Signage: Braille is included on more signs for navigating spaces
- Accessible Parks and Playgrounds: Accessible parks and playgrounds are popping up in more and more communities
- Universal Design in Public Spaces: More public spaces are being created with universal design principles, allowing for increased access and participation by more people with disabilities and those who are aging into disability
- Audio Descriptions: More videos now include options for audio descriptions for the Blind
- Built-in Accessibility Features: Computers, tablets, smartphones, and other digital devices come with built-in accessibility features such as Zoom, speech recognition, live captioning, and text-to-speech, with new options being developed each year
- Accessible Websites: More websites have accessible text, pictures, documents, navigation, and more
- Accessible Social Media: More social media platforms, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, have the option to make posts more accessible, such as alternative text for pictures
- And more!
Does this mean that all the above is accessible in all places? No! Is it better than 1990? Yes! Can we and should we do more? Absolutely-100%!
What will you do to help make the world more accessible in the next 35 years?
Image description: A computer chip with the word “ACCESS” in the middle. The ADA Americans with Disabilities Act Celebrate 35 Anniversary, July 26, 2025, logo. Additional text: What does Accessibility look like in 2025? #ThanksToTheADA #ADA35 #ADAAnniversary @ADANetwork The ATAP logo is located in the upper right corner, and the website ataporg.org is displayed at the bottom.
Type: News
Topic(s): Assistive Technology,General