History of Microsoft's Commitment to Accessibility

For nearly twenty years, Microsoft has focused on making computers easier to use for individuals with a wide array of difficulties and impairments. From its earliest experiences with the issues of accessibility, Microsoft has listened, learned, and applied what it's learned. The result is an increasing momentum toward the goal of making computers accessible and useful to all people.

1988 - 1992: Early Accessibility Efforts

Collaboration with Trace Research and Development Center. Microsoft's first work in the area of accessibility was in partnership with the Trace Research and Development Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Trace requested assistance from Microsoft in creating a product that would make the Microsoft Windows 2.0 operating system accessible for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have limited dexterity.
Accessibility add-ons developed. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and IBM, the "Windows 2.0 Project" was carried out with technical assistance from the Microsoft Windows management team. The result was "Access Utility for Windows 2.0," an add-on program that enhanced keyboard and mouse operations (including the original versions of Sticky Keys, Filter Keys and Mouse Keys), provided visual feedback when the computer made sounds (Show Sounds), and allowed specialized devices to operate the computer through a serial port (Serial Keys).
Access Pack for Microsoft Windows. Following the success of the first collaboration, Trace and Microsoft updated the Access Utility for Windows resulting in Access Pack for Microsoft Windows.
AccessDOS and Dvorak keyboard layouts developed. Other early accomplishments included licensing AccessDOS for distribution on the MS-DOS 5.0 Supplemental Disk and adding the first Dvorak keyboard layouts to MS-DOS and Windows operating systems. These were later supplemented with versions for people who type with one hand or who use a stick to press keys on the keyboard.

1992-1994: The Momentum Grows

First full-time staff position. In 1992, Microsoft created its first full-time staff position dedicated to accessibility issues.
Released first independent project. Access Pack for Microsoft Windows NT was the first major accessibility product to be developed completely by Microsoft, and the first one to work on the Windows NT platform. Until then, most assistive technology were compatible with the MS-DOS platform, but not with Microsoft Windows which is a graphical platform.
Assistive technology for Windows encouraged. Microsoft began actively encouraging and supporting assistive technology vendors to create products that would work with the Windows operating systems.

1994-1997: Strengthening the Commitment

Accessibility features built into Microsoft products. In 1995, the release of Microsoft Windows 95 marked a change in the way Microsoft handled accessibility. For the first time, accessibility features were built into the operating system rather than offered as add-on features requiring separate installation.
Accessibility Mission & Strategy created. In 1995, Microsoft publicly declared its commitment to accessibility with the adoption of its Accessibility Policy and significantly increased its accessibility efforts. The company also conducted a conference of assistive technology manufacturers and representatives of the disability community.
Accessibility staff increases. Microsoft added six staff members to work on important accessibility projects around the Internet and to create the technology to make its products more accessible. While some staff members concentrated on what ultimately became Microsoft Active Accessibility, a developer technology that improves the way the Windows operating systems and programs work with assistive technology, others helped Microsoft product teams incorporate accessibility features into their products.

1997-1998: Proactive Involvement

Active Accessibility released. In 1997, Microsoft released its first version of Active Accessibility. It also worked to make Microsoft Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) available and received recognition for its efforts from the nation's largest consumer organization for hard of hearing people. The SHHH award, from Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) recognized Microsoft's contributions to helping people with disabilities take advantage of computers and the Internet.
Sweeping changes announced. Early in 1998, Microsoft hosted Accessibility Day to raise awareness among Microsoft employees that accessibility must be a fundamental part of software design. In a speech at the conference, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates reaffirmed the company's commitment to accessibility and encouraged accessibility measures within the software industry as a whole. Gates outlined Microsoft's new plan to further advance accessibility and tripled the number of people working full-time on accessibility throughout the company.

Also in 1998, Microsoft:

Released SAMI, a technology used to enhance multimedia content with closed captions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and with descriptive narration for people who are blind.
Released Microsoft Windows 98, which included all the accessibility features of Windows 95 and added several new ones, such as Magnifier and the Accessibility Wizard.
Awarded grants to expand technology access and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Increased Accessibility staff. By 1999, approximately 40 full-time positions were allocated to work on accessibility in coordination, outreach, product development, testing, program management, documentation, and marketing. In addition, throughout the company, other Microsoft staff worked on accessibility issues as part of their jobs.

1999-2001: Progress into the New Millennium

Microsoft Office 2000 the powerful and popular family of productivity tools was released in the spring of 1999 with a number of new and enhanced accessibility features including improved high contrast and keyboard support, personalized menus and toolbars, and better natural language searching capability in Help.
Internet Explorer 5 was released in March 1999 with improved support for assistive technology and new and enhanced features including AutoComplete options, keyboard shortcuts, adjustable font sizes and colors, and support for user style sheets.
Microsoft Active Accessibility 1.3, the developer technology that helps the operating system, applications and assistive technology communicate more effectively, was released in October 1999. With this release, all 27 Microsoft Windows operating system languages were supported.
Able to Work, an independent business consortium, was launched in October 1999 by the National Business & Disability Council (NBDC) and Microsoft. NBDC and Microsoft brought together 21 leading companies to help raise awareness of the value of recruiting and hiring people with disabilities.
Microsoft Windows 2000 was released in February 2000. It introduced accessibility features including a new text-to-speech utility and on-screen keyboard.
Microsoft Windows Me, the consumer operating system successor to Windows 98 designed expressly for the home computer user was introduced in late 2000. New and improved accessibility tools and features included an enhanced accessibility menu, new mouse control options, a new cursor-width option, accessibility improvements in calculator and keyboard access to the taskbar.
Accessibility Documentation Improved. By 2001, Microsoft products provided much expanded and improved accessibility documentation within the product Help system, introduced a host of new Step by Step Tutorials for accessibility features, and a searchable keyboard shortcuts database. An accessibility newsletter describing accessibility resources available from Microsoft, along with articles, stories and a calendar of events, began publication and distribution.
- Microsoft Office XP was introduced in the summer of 2001 with accessibility improvements including Speech support, improved underlying support for assistive technology, more keyboard support, and more customization options.
- Microsoft Windows XP includes better integration with assistive technology, richer communication options, and greater flexibility in adjusting the appearance and behavior of Windows XP.
- Internet Explorer 6 includes more accessibility options to customize text, styles, and colors, and complete keyboard accessibility.

2002 - 2004: Raising Awareness

Book Helps Raise Awareness Among Business Leaders on the Power of Accessible Technology for Employees. In 2002, Microsoft Press published the book, Accessible Technology in Today's Business, to demonstrate to organizations that accessible technology solutions are available today to provide people with disabilities the essential tools they need to work-and that it makes good business sense to do so.
Release of the "Designed for Microsoft® Windows®—Optimized for Accessibility" Program. This program provides accessibility guidelines for improving a product's user experience. These guidelines were released in Spring 2002 to help educate technology manufacturers across the industry about accessibility issues when developing products.
Active Support of Section 508. Microsoft's support of Section 508 requirements including developing product VPATs.
Case Studies Spotlight Professionals with Disabilities Working in All Industries. Microsoft introduced a series of case studies to help educate business managers about how accessible technology can empower people with disabilities in major industries including manufacturing, retail, government, healthcare, and retail organizations.
Microsoft Office 2003 Released. Microsoft Office 2003, introduced in October 2003, includes features that make the software accessible to a wider range of users, including those who have limited dexterity, low vision, or other disabilities. Information on Accessibility is integrated into the Microsoft Office 2003 Help System. You can find out more about accessibility in Microsoft Office by searching under "accessibility" on the Microsoft Online Web site.
New Study Released on the Market for Accessible Technology and Its Current Awareness, Use, and Potential. In 2003, Microsoft Corporation commissioned Forrester Research, Inc., to conduct a study to measure the potential market of people in the United States who are most likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology for computers.

2005: Innovation and Technology Leadership

Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers are now available throughout the U.S. to show you what's possible with accessible technology solutions available on today's computers. Whether you have reduced eyesight, wrist/arm discomfort, or hearing loss, these centers can show you accessibility options and assistive technology products that can add to your computer skill and proficiency.
Microsoft's New Accessibility Model, UI Automation Our new accessibility model, Microsoft UI Automation, to promote innovation in the assistive technology industry.

2006-2008: Next Generation of Computing

Inclusive Innovation Showroom Illustrates Value of Accessible Technology. The showroom features home and office technology to help people with disabilities and aging computer users enjoy a digital lifestyle.
Microsoft, DAISY Make Reading Easier for People With Print Disabilities. Using Office Open XML files, users of Microsoft Office Word can now produce content in the world's most widely used assistive technology format.
Microsoft Accessibility Developer Center is integrated into the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN). The site is designed to provide developer resources, from technical content to prototypes, and to foster dynamic communication among people who develop accessible technology and conduct accessibility research.
Internet Explorer 8 includes additional accessibility improvements. In 2008, Internet Explorer 8 was released with numerous accessibility improvements including better compatibility with assistive technology products and new features: Caret Browsing, Accelerators, and Zooming to make Internet navigation easier than ever. Enhanced keyboard access can also be found in the default toolbar buttons, search box items, address bar, and tabs.
Windows Vista: Introducing the Ease of Access Center. Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista were the Ease of Access Center and state-of-the-art speech recognition and magnification capabilities.
New Accessibility Settings in Internet Explorer 7 offered better compatibility with assistive technology products and new accessibility features including the Zoom option in addition to enhanced keyboard access.
2007 Office System made it easier for everyone to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with rich content. The completely redesigned user interface made finding commands easier, and compatibility with assistive technology products was improved.