Apple’s latest accessibility push: Privacy-first, deeply personal and coming to every device

Apple

Apple is expanding its already extensive slate of accessibility features across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and now visionOS, with a privacy-first approach that ensures users stay in control of their data. The company previewed the updates ahead of WWDC 2025, where developers will get more insight—especially into a new initiative called Accessibility Nutrition Labels, designed to help App Store users make more informed decisions about accessibility support before downloading an app.

“These groundbreaking features were designed with feedback from members of disability communities every step of the way,” Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s Senior Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives told Moneycontrol. Accessibility, according to Herrlinger, is part of everything that Apple does.

One of the most interesting features coming to Apple devices is Personal Voice, Apple’s on-device AI tool that lets users at risk of speech loss create a personalized voice using just 15 minutes of audio. It’s designed for privacy—everything is processed on-device, with no data leaving the user’s control. “Your data is yours,” Herrlinger emphasised. “Features like Personal Voice or Live Listen don’t rely on the cloud—they’re all built to protect the user,” she told Moneycontrol.

Among the standout announcements is the expansion of Vehicle Motion Cues to the Mac. Originally launched on iPhone and iPad, the feature helps reduce motion sickness by using animated dots on screen that respond to real-time motion detected by the device’s sensors. Now, users can further customise these dots—adjusting their size, transparency, and position—across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. “It will work very similarly to how it does on the iPhone,” said Herrlinger when asked how it will function on a Mac.

Also making waves is Live Listen for Apple Watch, now paired with real-time Live Captions. Live Listen turns the iPhone into a remote microphone and streams that audio directly to AirPods, Beats headphones, or Made for iPhone hearing aids. When a session is active, users can read captions on a paired Apple Watch and listen along to what’s being said—ideal for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

With the Apple Watch acting as a remote control, users can start or stop sessions, or even rewind to catch what they missed—no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or class. Live Listen can also be used alongside hearing health features on AirPods Pro 2, including the new, clinical-grade Hearing Aid Mode.

Mac is also getting Magnifier tools, while visionOS gets expanded support for motor and vision challenges. Apple’s redesigned Accessibility Reader and improved Braille Access round out a suite that aims to offer something for nearly every kind of user, across every Apple platform.

Herrlinger believes the ripple effects will be felt far beyond personal devices. “From daily life to enterprise and banking apps, the impact of these features is going to be huge,” she said. “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these tools help people engage more meaningfully with the world around them,” added Herrlinger.

At WWDC 2025, Apple is expected to showcase how developers can better support these experiences—with guidance on implementation, app optimization, and ethical design for inclusion.